Too Little Too Late - Why the Government’s Latest 30 by 30 Delivery Plan Falls Short

30 by 30 Delivery Plan Timeline

With just four years left to fulfil our commitment to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, the government has published their 30 by 30 delivery plan. It is woeful. 

Lake District National Park - Credit: Olga Lioncat

Back in 2020, the government joined world leaders in committing to the 30 by 30 target - which is Target 3 of the Convention on Biological Diversity's Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It felt like an exciting moment for nature recovery but it quickly became clear that the government’s idea of ‘protected’ was misguided and untrue. At the time, Johnson’s Conservative government claimed that 26% of England was already protected for nature - largely through existing national parks and protected landscapes. This claim (and the latest report) was limited to England, because biodiversity policy is devolved in the UK, with the Senedd, Holyrood and Stormont all responsible for developing their own 30 by 30 delivery plans. By 2022 however, DEFRA acknowledged that many national parks are not managed well for nature and that they could not currently contribute to the 30 by 30 targets in their current state.

Thirty Percent of the Sea?

The recent delivery plan (published 13th July) states ‘England has already shown significant leadership on 30by30, with over 40% of English waters already designated as 'Marine Protected Areas’ (MPAs). The plan therefore focuses on improving land use, echoing their 2020 mistake of assuming that designated protected areas are not always managed well for nature.

Fishing Vessel - Credit: Pok Rie

Since 2020, 1.3 million tonnes of fish have been caught inside the UK’s MPAs. Of that number, 250,000 tonnes were caught by bottom-towed gear, including bottom trawlers, which are highly destructive and devastate marine ecosystems. There is huge concern around the lack of ambition and inclusion of marine areas in this recent report. Failing to protect our marine wildlife from incredibly destructive practices like bottom trawling, while claiming that they are in a protected area, risks undermining our entire 30 by 30 commitment.

What's the Lie of the Land?

Wildlife and Countryside Link reports annually on the percentage of land which is both protected for nature and in good condition. Last year’s analysis showed that in England, just 2.83% of land is protected and in good condition. This is down from 2.93% in 2024. Other estimates claim a slightly higher percentage of land which contributes to the 30 by 30 target, ranging up to around 10%. With four years remaining until the 2030 deadline, 30% remains a long way off. 

Wetlands - Credit: Kirill Zhbakov

The current delivery plan should have laid out a clear roadmap to rapidly improving our work towards our internationally agreed target. Sadly, this plan lacks clarity and ambition. Its assessment that 32% of land in England could contribute to the 30 by 30 target rings hollow, when they fail to explore the specific policies needed to bring that land up to scratch. The report also asks land managers to take responsibility in delivering our 30 by 30 target but lacks clear information on how they will be incentivised and supported in doing so. 

Our message for Andy…

We have four years left to deliver this internationally important target. Young people are desperate for a clear roadmap showing how the government will lead us out of the challenges we face. The last few weeks have seen record breaking temperatures with more than 2,700 deaths linked to the May and June heatwaves. In the face of these challenges, nature is our strongest ally. We need a leader who will pave the way to a safer future — one in which internationally agreed targets are not just words on a page, but commitments by which we are held..

Arial view of Manchester, UK - Credit: Mylo Kaye