Global public opinion survey on space for nature

ZSL, in collaboration with IUCN and freuds, has carried out the first ever systematic global public opinion survey on the question of how much space we should set aside for nature, and why, to help steer the future vision for the world’s protected areas. 

The need for a global public opinion survey

Under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)’s Aichi Target 11, the governments of the world have pledged to protect at least 17% of the world’s terrestrial and inland water areas and 10% of its coastal and marine areas by 2020.  However, this target has been largely agreed through a political process, and there has been little consultation with the public on what areas we should protect for nature, and why.  In November 2014, the conservation community met to decide on a vision for the world’s protected areas beyond 2020 at the once-in-a-decade IUCN World Parks Congress, and it was critical that the views of this global constituency were incorporated into this process.

Informing discussions at the IUCN World Parks Congress

ZSL coordinated a key session at the World Parks Congress which addressed this question.  The aim of the session was to explore, in an interactive and participatory fashion, three dimensions of the question, ‘What space should we protect for nature post-2020?’, with respect to:

1. Public opinion – how much space do people think should be allocated to nature, and why?
2. Scientific advice – how much nature do we need to protect, and where, in order to conserve the intrinsic and utilitarian values and benefits that nature provides and that people want?
3. Political targets – what does this mean for informing the design and uptake of new targets for protected areas beyond 2020?

A key aspect of this session was to ask people around the world – for the first time – their opinion regarding the space we set aside for nature.

Watch the film on Space for Nature to find out more: