It’s a big goal but it can be done. Experts from some of Australia’s leading conservation organisations have outlined how to protect at least 30% of our land by 2030. 

Here’s some of the takeaways from their report:

We need a pathway to 30 by 30  

When we set a goal like protecting 30% of Australia’s land, it’s tempting to take the easy way out. For Australia, that could look like just protecting large areas of deserts which we’re already looking after in our protected area estate.

But that’s not what the 30% goal is for. It’s about stopping the loss of different types of plants and animals and protecting a good mix of all of Australia’s unique natural places and wildlife. To do this, protection is going to look like a variety of different protected area types. 

In recent years, Australia has developed and expanded new ways to protect our unique landscapes and wildlife. While most people know and love our national parks, not everyone knows about the agreements with Indigenous people and private landowners, which are just as important.

Key ways to protect nature

National Parks and other public protected areas

Australia is already home to some truly spectacular national parks, including household names like Kakadu, the Franklin River, Daintree Rainforest, and Karijini. These are special places that let us experience the country’s incredible natural and cultural beauty. They also play a crucial role in preserving Australia’s diverse plant and animal life. 

We need to keep looking for places like this to protect – creating new national parks that ensure our special places are protected for wildlife, carbon storage, and water. Alongside this, many Indigenous communities want to be part of these decisions and ongoing management – something they are well placed to do.

Indigenous Protected Areas (IPAs) 

These are lands managed by Indigenous people in partnership with the Australian Government. It’s a great opportunity for our nation to acknowledge the long history of Indigenous people caring for Country and make use of their deep understanding of the land.

There are now about 80 IPAs that cover more than 84 million hectares – that’s nearly half of our whole protected area estate! These IPAs include well-known landscapes like the Kimberley, Arnhem Land, Cape York, and the vast deserts of central Australia. They’re places where we ensure that special animals like bilbies, rock-wallabies, and Gouldian finches get to survive and thrive. 

Private Protected Areas

Australia has more than 6,000 protected areas on private land thanks to donations, government investment in land trusts, and private landowners committing to protect their land forever, even if it gets sold. These privately protected areas help conserve some of Australia’s most at-risk ecosystems. They also link up other protected areas, allowing species to move to safer places.

Put simply, private conservation is about individual people who are passionate about protecting the land under their care. To reach 30 by 30, we need more of this, especially for types of habitats that don’t have enough protection right now. 

Australia’s wildlife need more safe places now more than ever. And Australia has what it takes to reach the 30 by 30 goal. 

Show your support for 30 by 30 so we can make it happen. Join the global movement.