Advancing equitable governance in area-based conservation

This WCPA issues paper provides an overview of the equitable governance element of Target 3 of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) agreed at COP15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 2022, and strategies that could deliver real progress on this key element of what is also known as the “30x30” target. This paper focuses on five important developments in guidance and tools and in the context of area-based conservation since the earlier CBD-endorsed guidance of 2018. In terms of context, this paper covers the cross-cutting commitments in the GBF to a human-rights based approach, respecting and protecting IP & LCs rights, and recognising different value systems of different stakeholders and rightsholders, and better understanding of enabling conditions for advancing equity, and strategies to improve them. In terms of guidance and tools, this paper covers the role of social safeguards for both mitigating risks of future negative impacts on IPs & LCs and nature and for increasing benefits for people and nature, and monitoring progress on the equitable governance element of Target 3. Furthermore, we look at important linkages among Target 3 and Target 22 on procedural rights and Target 23 on gender equality.