Leading environmental NGOs IUCN and WWF have joined forces to enhance and promote the role of protected and conserved areas in achieving sustainable development over the next ten years.
Under the new partnership, WWF and IUCN will expand the number of protected areas reaching IUCN Green List quality standards to at least 1000 protected areas in 50 countries, by ensuring that they meet the Green List criteria. They will also seek the application of $2 billion of new investment finance in the enhanced performance and sustainability of these protected areas.
Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International commented:
“This partnership will help ensure that critical forests, wetlands and marine habitats are protected for future generations. Stronger efforts to create and maintain protected areas are crucial to achieving the new Sustainable Development Goals and securing a climate resilient future.”
The partnership was announced on the first anniversary of the IUCN World Parks Congress which took place in November last year in Sydney. The Congress culminated in the Promise of Sydney, that included the commitment to invest in protected areas, which help to halt biodiversity loss, mitigate and adapt to climate change, reduce the risk and impact of disasters, and improve food and water security.
The 10-year partnership aims to make the case for direct investment in protected areas and protected area systems that demonstrate enhanced conservation outcomes. The partnership will look at how challenges faced by protected areas such as poaching, illegal logging and other destructive activities can be addressed through new financing and investment.
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