A major report co-led by the University of Tasmania was unveiled today at the UN biodiversity summit in Colombia, outlining how nations can integrate biodiversity into land and sea planning to meet global conservation targets by 2030.
The report, led by Associate Professor Conservation and Planning, Vanessa Adams, provides a framework for countries to halt biodiversity loss as part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
Titled An Overview of Participatory, Integrated, and Biodiversity-Inclusive Spatial Planning, the report offers governments a practical roadmap to achieve the framework’s target of conserving 30% of land and marine areas by 2030.
The document was presented at the Conference of the Parties (COP), a key UN gathering where global leaders tackle environmental crises.
“This report equips nations with the tools to embed biodiversity into their land, sea, and freshwater planning,” said Hedley Grantham, co-lead and Associate Professor at UNSW. “It’s about ensuring sustainable development while protecting ecosystems.”
The report also highlights the vital role Indigenous communities play in conservation, noting that Indigenous lands house much of the world’s remaining biodiversity.
“Successful planning must involve Indigenous Peoples and local communities, ensuring they have ownership of conservation strategies,” said Associate Professor Adams.
“Their involvement is critical to making these strategies equitable, effective, and sustainable.”
The University’s contribution underscores its global leadership in biodiversity policy at a time when Australia faces one of the highest rates of species extinction.
Case studies from Ecuador and South Africa showcase how spatial planning has balanced biodiversity protection with economic development, offering models for other countries.
“The global biodiversity crisis is happening now,” Associate Professor Adams added.
“Spatial planning provides a path to a future where both people and nature can thrive.”
Tasmania has long been a leader in conservation science. The concept of complementarity—used to identify priority areas for protection—was pioneered in Tasmania in the 1980s and remains central to modern biodiversity planning.
While nearly 50 per cent of Tasmania’s land is protected, the report highlights the need for stronger marine conservation.
The framework offers an opportunity for Tasmania to bridge these gaps and reassert its leadership in global biodiversity efforts.