Outcomes of the consultative process to develop a coherent ambitious response to Conserving 30% of by 2030 and give effect to South Africa’s policy on Biodiversity Conservation

Reaching the ambition of Target 3 would deliver on multiple Goals and Objectives of the White Paper on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use and other government priorities. Target 3 (one of 23 Targets within the GBF) is an apex target for South Africa’s response to the Global Biodiversity Framework and has been aligned to the White Paper on Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Use - approved by Cabinet in April 2023. Goal 1 of the White Paper enjoins South Africa to pursue conservation of the full diversity of nature, especially in a way that provides services and underpins livelihoods. This 30x30 Implementation Plan is the key mechanism by which to pursue Goal 1 and many other objectives of the White Paper.

Strong alignment of other national planning processes to the White Paper and the 30x30 Implementation Plan is required to maximise their contribution to building socio-ecological resilience to climate change and to maintain and restore ecosystem services that biodiversity delivers.

This document Synthesis of 30x30 Implementation Workshop synthesises the outputs of the 30x30 Implementation Workshop (6-8 June 2023) to plan South Africa’s response to Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Target 3 states: “Ensure and enable that by 2030 at least 30 percent of terrestrial, inland water, and of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, are effectively conserved and managed through ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, recognizing indigenous and traditional territories, where applicable, and integrated into wider landscapes, seascapes and the ocean, while ensuring that any sustainable use, where appropriate in such areas, is fully consistent with conservation outcomes, recognizing and respecting the rights of indigenous peoples and local communities, including over their traditional territories.”

This Target resonates clearly with Goal 1 of the White Paper on Biodiversity and Sustainable Use, and the Implementation Plan derived for the GBF will function effectively for the White Paper. This synthesis builds on workshop discussion papers exploring issues, challenges and opportunities which provides more detailed background and baseline information from various data sets.

The 30x30 Implementation Workshop Report explains how the discussions were conducted, the four breakaway groups upon which much of the work is built, and who contributed to the proceedings.