Why an intention to conserve an area for only 25 years should not count for Australia’s target of protecting 30% of land

By James Fitzsimons, Adjunct Professor in Environmental Sciences, Deakin University

Protected areas have been the cornerstone of efforts to conserve nature for more than a century. Most countries have some form of protected areas, national parks being the best-known examples. A key element of protected areas is that they are dedicated, through legal or other effective means, to long-term conservation of nature.

Australia has taken an innovative and diverse approach to growing its protected area estate. It includes Indigenous…

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