View from above Aerial view of a beach in Rajat Ampat, Indonesia. © Setiono Joko Purwanto/TNC Photo Contest 2019
Asia Pacific and the Road to 2030:
People, Policy and Prosperity for the Planet
For over three decades, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been a trusted conservation leader in Asia Pacific. We are proud of our contributions, yet the stark reality is that Asia Pacific continues to lose nature at a rate faster than anywhere else in the world, and the region’s carbon emissions continue to rise.
To increase the scale and sustainability of TNC’s impact in Asia Pacific by 2030, we are focusing our investment in three pivotal areas: People, Policy and Prosperity. And we are committed to achieving set outcomes for Asia Pacific as part of TNC's global 2030 goals. Read more below.
Why Asia Pacific Matters
The region is losing nature at a rate faster than anywhere else, yet its ecosystems are critical to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
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4.3B
people live in the region, or roughly 60% of the world's population.
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42%
of all species in Southeast Asia could be lost by the turn of the century; at least half of these would be global extinctions.
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$19Tr
or 63% of Asia Pacific's GDP at risk due to nature loss.
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2-3x
faster than the global average sea level rise for low-lying areas in the Pacific.
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40%
of the region’s coral reefs and mangroves are lost due to extensive coastal development and unsustainable exploitation of marine resources.
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2
of the three largest emitters of carbon and other greenhouse gases are based in the region (China and India).
TNC Asia Pacific's 2030 Goals
Based on TNC's 2030 global goals and our conservation strategies, TNC is committed to achieving the following outcomes by 2030 in Asia Pacific. The figures in the following image represent cumulative progress from 2021 - 2022.
Our 2030 Goals in Action
Here are some featured projects in the region that touch base on people-centered conservation, policy that delivers conservation outcomes and prosperity for nature.
Australia's 30x30 Commitment Goals
2030 AP GOALS:
- Lands - 178 million hectares of critical landscapes are protected, restored or benefiting from improved management
- People - 358,000 people are benefiting from improved rights to natural resource management and sustainable economic development opportunities
AUSTRALIA'S 2030 GOALS:
- Lands -
- People - 47,600 people
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In July 2022, Australia's Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek firmly committed Australia to the protection 30% of lands and 30% of oceans by 2030. Later that year in December, 190 countries came together at the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework to officially adopt a sweeping agreement to commit to the 30x30 goal.
While this target seems ambitious, Australia is well-positioned to meet it and pave the way for other countries to do so. To support Australia's national commitment, TNC takes a people-centered conservation approach and works with state governments and partners to protect large, biodiverse ecosystems at a landscape scale.
Natural Climate Solutions for China
2030 AP CLIMATE GOAL:
291 million metric tons of CO2E per year of carbon emissions are avoided or sequestered
CHINA'S CLIMATE GOAL:
Greenhouse gas mitigation of 210460000tCO2 per year
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Natural climate solutions, also known as nature-based solutions, refer to the protection, restoration and sustainable management of critical ecosystems as effective measures to address climate change. These solutions can contribute to China's goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2060 while benefiting both people and nature.
Through our work, TNC collaborates with governments and partners in China to develop policy frameworks, promote market mechanisms and emphasize the importance of integrating natural climate solutions into nationwide actions to reduce carbon emissions and safeguard the environment.
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Transforming China's Protected Areas
2030 AP LANDS GOAL:
178 million hectares of critical landscapes are protected, restored or benefiting from improved management
CHINA'S LANDS GOAL:
34,669,900 hectares of lands with improved land management
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China has placed great emphasis in recent years on expanding protected areas that protect at-risk species, such as the iconic giant panda. However, many currently protected areas in China lack a unified vision and a conservation strategy, requiring additional operation support and funding to run more efficiently.
Beginning in 2006, TNC has helped the Yunnan government to establish its first national park. Thanks to its success and other park models in the United States, TNC is supporting China to launch a new, unified parks system designed with science and biodiversity in mind.
Sustainable Forestry in Borneo
2030 AP GOALS:
- Climate - 291 million metric tons of CO2E per year of carbon emissions are avoided or sequestered
- Lands - 178 million hectares of critical landscapes are protected, restored or benefiting from improved management
INDONESIA'S GOALS:
- Climate - 77,164,000tCO2 per year are avoided or sequestered
- Lands - 11,537,034 hectares are protected, restored or benefiting from improved management
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The tropical forests of Kalimantan, the Indonesian region of Borneo, could account for nearly 40 percent of Indonesia's 2030 carbon reduction goals. As the world's third-largest tropical forest, it is a priority conservation landscape that contains a wealth of biodiversity, including the endangered Bornean orangutan.
TNC is working through its main Indonesian partner, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), to advance sustainable development and responsible forestry practices. This involves creating comprehensive frameworks for forest conservation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Indonesia's At-Risk Marine Biodiversity
2030 AP OCEANS GOAL:
38 million hectares of oceans are protected or benefiting from improved management
INDONESIA'S OCEANS GOAL:
16.5 million hectares protected or benefiting from improved management
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Indonesia's oceans and coasts support large fisheries and tourism industries that millions of people depend on for their livelihoods, food and way of life. But the nation's coastlines are threatened by sea level rise, extreme weather events, unsustainable development and natural resource exploitation.
Through its main partner in Indonesia, Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN), TNC collaborates with governments, local communities and the private sector to ensure effective management and protection of these marine environments through marine protected areas. Efforts include raising awareness, building community engagement, and securing commitments for sustainable marine resource management.
Last Chance for Mongolia's Grasslands
2030 AP LANDS GOAL:
178 million hectares protected, restored or with improved management
MONGOLIA'S LANDS GOAL:
25 million hectares protected, restored or with improved management
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Covering more than 80 percent of the country, Mongolia’s vast, undulating grasslands are more than breathtaking. They are a last-chance ecosystem that must be saved for a sustainable future. Recognizing their importance, 20 years ago the Mongolian government pledged to protect 30 percent of the country by 2030.
Since 2008, TNC has been bringing together governments, herding communities and other partners to secure long-term conservation and community development outcomes to establish protected areas that are collaboratively designed, people-led and nationally supported.
Less Trash, More Reefs for Hong Kong
2030 AP GOAL:
- Oceans - 38 million hectares of oceans are protected or benefiting from improved management
- People - 358,000 people are benefiting from improved rights to natural resource management and sustainable economic development opportunities
HONG KONG'S GOALS:
- Oceans - 52 hectares of ocean with improved management
- People - 3,000 people benefiting from improved rights to natural resource management and sustainable economic development opportunities
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TNC’s vision is for Hong Kong is a resilient and liveable city where the power of nature is used to combat urban challenges, create economic opportunities and improve well-being. From restoring coastal wetlands and oyster reefs to investigating nature-based solutions, we are collaborating with the government, academics, partners and communities to build resilience in the face of climate change.
Oyster farming in Hong Kong has been an important livelihood for more than 700 years, supporting the local aquaculture industry and cultural heritage. TNC has developed the "Save Our Shells" project, a collaborative initiative that recycles discarded shellfish shells and repurposes them as substrate for new reefs.
Large-Scale Conservation in New Zealand
2030 AP LANDS GOAL:
178 million hectares protected, restored or with improved management
NEW ZEALAND'S LANDS GOAL:
3,580,000 hectares protected, restored or with improved management
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With two-thirds of its plants and animals found nowhere else in the world, New Zealand is a place of global conservation significance. Here, TNC is supporting the Kotahitanga mō te Taiao Alliance, Māori for "Collective Action for Our Nature" — a large collaborative team of partner organizations that is focused on conserving the northern tip of the South Island.
Through large-scale, community-led conservation initiatives, TNC's role is to contribute science, expertise from global projects, financial tools and a commitment to engaging diverse stakeholders around common goals.
Scaling Protection in the Solomons
2030 AP OCEANS GOAL:
38 million hectares of oceans are protected or benefiting from improved management
SOLOMON ISLANDS OCEANS GOAL:
300,000 hectares of ocean protected or benefiting from improved management
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Since 1995, TNC has been working with Indigenous communities across Isabel Province, Solomon Islands, to protect important nesting grounds for threatened species like the hawksbill and leatherback turtle. Our work has supported local communities to effectively manage these nesting grounds, leading to the establishment of the Arnavons Community Marine Park in 2017.
By proposing to strengthen and expand the protection of key ecosystems, while in support of gender equity outcomes with co-benefits for people and biodiversity, our work involves people-centered conservation and leverages funding to support scaling protection for a protected areas network that encompasses larger marine and terrestrial protected areas.
Road to Success
The Nature Conservancy's mission is to conserve the lands and waters on which all life depends. Our vision is a world where the diversity of life thrives, and people act to conserve nature for its own sake.
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Strong Foundation for Success
With over 30 years of conservation experience in Asia Pacific, our contributions and partnerships are built on trust and collaboration.
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Policy That Delivers
We support governments to develop and implement the policies and laws needed to achieve lasting conservation outcomes at scale.
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People-Centered Conservation
We work with Indigenous and local communities because the people most impacted by our actions must be central to developing equitable solutions.
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Prosperity for Nature
We support private sector efforts that aims to direct capital flows away from damaging practices and towards equitable conservation and climate action.
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People, Policy and Prosperity for the Planet: Asia Pacific Strategic Plan Towards 2030
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