30 by 30 in Wales

Protecting 30% of Wales’ Land, Freshwater and Seas by 2030

The Welsh Government has committed to an ambitious goal: protecting 30% of our land, freshwater, and seas by 2030. This target is part of the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and represents a crucial step towards addressing urgent environmental challenges, including biodiversity loss and climate change.

By safeguarding and restoring natural habitats, we aim to create a resilient and thriving ecosystem in Wales that benefits both nature and people. By fostering collaboration among local communities, conservation organisations, and policymakers, we aim to ensure that our rich biodiversity is protected and enhanced for the well-being of current and future generations.

The action-focused Biodiversity Deep Dive examined Wales’s implementation of the 30 by 30 target. A set of collective actions was developed to support nature’s recovery in Wales.

In July 2024 the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs published a Written Statement outlining progress on the Biodiversity Deep Dive actions.

30 by 30 Expert Groups

To support the implementation of the 30 by 30 target in Wales, three expert groups have been established:

1. Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) and Nature Recovery Exemplar Areas (NREAs) Expert Group: This group has been tasked with recommending processes and criteria for recognising, monitoring, and reporting on existing and candidate NREAs and OECMs.
2. Designated Landscapes Expert Group: This group is responsible for identifying prioritised workstreams to advance the initiative. Their tasks include developing a series of Prioritised Nature Recovery Action maps for each Designated Landscape, highlighting priorities and opportunities for conservation and landscape-scale nature recovery.
3. Monitoring and Evidence Expert Group: This group is focused on developing robust and appropriate monitoring and evidence frameworks for the 30 by 30 target and broader nature recovery goals.

Each expert group has produced an initial recommendation report. The executive summary of each report is available below.

To access the full reports, please email us at MarineandBiodiversity@gov.wales and specify which report(s) you require.