Protected Areas and Wildlife Corridors

The IUCN classifies protected areas into six categories: Ia (strict nature reserve), Ib (wilderness area), II (national park), III (natural monument), IV (habitat/species management area), V (protected landscape/seascape), and VI (managed resource protected area). As of 2024, about 17% of terrestrial and 8% of marine areas are protected globally. The '30×30' target—protecting 30% of land and ocean by 2030—was adopted by 196 countries at the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. However, 'paper parks' that lack enforcement or funding provide little real protection. Effective protected areas require adequate size, management capacity, community engagement, and sustainable funding.