Biodiversity loss ranks among the world's most pressing crises, prompting global action under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework—adopted at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity. A key plank of the framework is Target 3, known as the "30x30" goal: protecting at least 30% of the planet's land and oceans by 2030. For nations like China—balancing large populations, economic growth, and conservation—meeting this target requires novel strategies, according to a new study.

China faces a unique challenge: traditional protected areas (PAs) such as national parks and nature reserves alone cannot reach 30% coverage. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment estimates these areas will cover just 18% of China's land by 2030. Critically, China currently has no officially designated "other effective area-based conservation measures" (OECMs)—a flexible tool recognized under the global framework to complement PAs.

A research team led by Prof. REN Hai from the South China Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences has discovered that a solution may lie in China's existing ecological protections. Their analysis, published in Trends in Ecology & Evolution, highlights how Ecological Protection Red Lines (EPRLs) could play a key role in addressing this issue.

Since 2017, China has implemented the "Three Zones and Three Lines" system, which designates urban, agricultural, and ecological spaces, with strict "red lines" governing their use. By late 2023, these EPRLs—encompassing PAs, wetlands, biodiversity hotspots, and other ecologically vital areas—covered 31.7% of China's land, exceeding the 30x30 target on paper.

The team found that China's PAs already protect 75% of threatened plant species in their natural habitats. If 12% of EPRL areas—those critical for biodiversity but not yet in PAs—are designated as OECMs, an additional 20% of threatened plants could be safeguarded.

This approach would leave only about 5% of threatened plants and some at-risk animals outside EPRLs—populations that could be protected through ex situ (off-site) measures, maximizing conservation efficiency.

The researchers emphasize the importance of aligning OECM designations with international standards. They recommend accelerating the mainstreaming of OECMs, clarifying the roles and procedures of national certification bodies, and developing adaptive standards to identify potential OECMs within EPRLs. The study also advocates for strengthened biodiversity management goals, improved collaboration across departments, and multi-stakeholder governance to balance ecological protection with other land uses. The researchers highlight that China's diverse natural sanctuaries could serve as key candidates for OECMs.

This study sheds light on establishing a robust in situ conservation system by 2030: national parks as the core, OECMs as supplements, EPRLs as the foundation, and critical ecosystems (forests, wetlands, oceans, etc.) as support.