Strictly protecting 30% of Earth’s land and sea by 2030 would contribute to food shortages and insecurity, while neglecting conservation in other areas of the planet, according to new research that warns against setting hard targets in isolation, and instead proposes a land-use planning strategy where conservation and food production goals are integrated. Known as “30 by 30,” the target in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework draft released by the United Nations in July calls for policymakers to conserve 30% of Earth by 2030 through “area-based conservation measures” like protected nati…

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