Dear Ministers and Delegates,

We, the undersigned civil society organizations from around the world, call on Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity at COP17 to deliver on the commitment to conserve at least 30 percent of land, inland waters and seas by 2030, not just on paper, but in reality. Meeting a numerical target will mean little if the areas counted remain exposed to extractive and large-scale industrial activities that undermine biodiversity.

Target 3 calls for protected and conserved areas to be effectively managed, ecologically representative, well-connected and equitably governed. It also recognizes Indigenous and traditional territories and requires respect for the rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. These commitments must shape decisions about where conservation takes place, who governs it, and what activities are allowed, with a coherent approach across the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).

Yet widespread industrial pressures threaten to undermine these commitments. New analysis underscores the challenge and the urgency. Across countries studied, more than 61 million hectares of protected and conserved areas overlap with oil and gas blocks, and 43 million hectares overlap with mining concessions. These overlaps signal potential threats to nature, climate and people that governments must address.

To address these industrial threats and support high integrity implementation of 30x30, we call on Parties at COP17 to take five urgent actions:

• Remove incompatible industrial threats. Enforce standards to prevent extractive and other large-scale industrial activities that undermine protected and conserved areas. Review existing concessions and activities, and address threats to ecological integrity while respecting rights.
• Use spatial planning to prevent threats before damage occurs. Through participatory, biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning under Target 1, direct incompatible industrial activities away from protected and conserved areas and the Key Biodiversity Areas, intact ecosystems and ecological connections essential to achieving Target 3.
• Uphold rights, governance and stewardship. Secure Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ land, territorial and resource rights; respect Indigenous Peoples’ right to free, prior and informed consent; and support customary governance and community-led conservation. Their territories are not simply hectares to count: recognition must respect their decisions, rights and governance.
• Align licensing and economic decisions with conservation commitments. Ensure that licensing, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, fiscal incentives and finance do not authorize or support industrial activities that undermine protected and conserved areas. Deliver Target 3 through coherent action across the KMGBF, strengthening coordination across relevant authorities, meaningful participation and access to justice.
• Provide the means of implementation. Mobilize long-term finance, capacity-building and technology transfer for effective management, monitoring, restoration and accountability. Provide direct, accessible support for Indigenous and community-led priorities, governance and economies, including sustainable use consistent with conservation outcomes.

At COP17, Parties must turn ambition into action. Areas counted toward 30x30 must be safeguarded from incompatible industrial activities, with rights upheld and the means to make protection effective. Success must be measured by biodiversity conserved and rights upheld, as well as hectares counted.

Signed,