🤗 But many recent studies confirm the usefulness of protected areas for biodiversity preservation, if they meet certain criteria (governance, ecological efficiency, social inclusion). It's particularly true of indigenous protected and conserved areas, a topic I will cover in a future thread! 10/10

☹️ The conflicts are not resolved however, only hidden and outshone by promises of both nature conservation and economic growth for local territories and communities. This doesn’t allow for new perspectives and conservation options to be explored. 9/10

🤝 Then why are PAs so popular ? Well, because of the flexibility and malleability of this concept. Since it allows for conflicting interests to be taken into account (biodiversity conservation and economic development for example), it bypasses conflits and creates consensus. 8/10

🫎 The 30x30 target is also questionable: it implies that the efficiency of a PA can be measured by its surface alone. But ecosystem health is also dependant on factors outside of these areas, and must be measured by a variety of other indicators. The good old quality over quantity argument! 7/10

💰 It means some of them allow industry and resource extraction. Many are implemented in areas with low anthropization: less people means less resistance to PA projects… but also less positive impact on biodiversity, because PAs are most needed where human impact on ecosystems is the strongest. 6/10

🤓 Should they really be the preferred conservation tool though ? Here's the answer according to existing literature on the topic. Their efficiency is questionable because “protected area” is an umbrella term for many different statuses (over 30 in Québec alone) ! 5/10

🐦 PAs are the main strategy for biodiversity conservation: they used to be areas of land where no human presence was allowed at all, from resource extraction to a simple stroll. They have since then moved to a more inclusive vision regarding local communities and local development. 4/10

🏞 A protected area (let’s call them PA for the rest of this thread) is a "clearly defined geographical space, recognised, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long term conservation of nature" (IUCN). 3/10

🌊 We're in the wake of the COP15, which again stressed the importance of protected areas for biodiversity conservation. It established a highly advertized target of 30% of protected areas worldwide (marine and terrestrial) by 2030. One could then wonder how useful this policy tool really is. 2/10

Are protected areas even useful? 🤔 Let’s deep dive into the literature and experts’ opinions on the topic
🧵 (spoiler alert: it’s complicated…)

@damonmatthews.bsky.social #protectedareas #COP15 #natureconservation
(all references in the last post) 1/10
Article link: www.iisd.org/articles/ins...