Green sea turtleImage source, Getty Images
Image caption, Countries are being called on to protect more lands and oceans

The last chance for nature is being called by 100 countries.

To restore the natural world, the goal is to conserve forests and other vital flora and fauna by the year 2030.

The main ambition of the UN biodiversity summit is the 30x30 target.

There is division over this and many other targets as the talks move into their final days.

All living things, from polar bears to plankton, are referred to as "biodiversity."

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, The summit wants agreement on halting and reversing biodiversity loss by 2030

With forests and grasslands being lost at an unprecedented rate and oceans under pressure from pollution and over-fishing, scientists warn that humans are pushing the Earth past safe limits. Increasing the risk of diseases from wild animals into humans is part of this.

The countries would sign up to targets to expand protected areas. Edward O Wilson called for half of Earth to be protected.

Some scientists are concerned that the targets may be watered down due to the debate over how much land and sea to include.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, The last male northern white rhino, Sudan, died in 2018

It is absolutely necessary to design areas for nature that are meaningful.

He says that protecting our land and seas allows degraded environments to recover and start functioning in a way that is beneficial to society. Wetlands and forests can help humans deal with the other major global challenge of climate change.

Climate and biodiversity crises are not different from each other in that healthy ecosystems can lock up carbon and contribute to our climate mitigation targets.

Inger Andersen, head of the UN Environment Programme, said that the agreement deals with nature's contribution to the impacts of climate change.

At the talks, protecting the rights of indigenous peoples has been the main topic. A group of young indigenous people protested during Trudeau's speech. On Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets of Montreal to demand that their voices be heard.

The Amazon rainforest is one of the most biodiverse areas of the planet and it's important to protect it. They fear that they are being left out of decisions about what to do with their ancestral lands.

Ayisha Siddiqa, from the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, summed up some of the concerns of many communities when she spoke to the media.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Hundreds gathered in Montreal to call for indigenous voices to be heard

According to the UN, at least a quarter of the world's land is inhabited by indigenous communities and, where those communities have land rights, there is often a positive impact on nature. More wildlife can be found on lands cared for by indigenous communities.

According to Milka Chepkorir, the most biodiverse areas of the world are where people live, not where there are guards with guns.

She told the news thatIndigenous people live in harmony with the environment.

The Saami Council is based in Njuorggn, on the border between Finland and Norway, and it is where most of the unmodified nature is found.

How to divide the globe is one of the points of contention. Is protecting 30% of a country's territory a global target or should it be a country's responsibility?

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, Most of the world's remaining biodiversity is found in the Global South

The WWF says that countries are moving towards the latter. The general sense at the negotiations is that there should be a global target to make sure we conserve the most important places.

There must be effective management of these areas. It isn't just about how much of the land and sea is protected but what is allowed to happen in these areas.

Setting aside land doesn't do much for wildlife.

About 28% of the land in England is protected for nature. One report says the figure is closer to 5%.

Many of the seas around the British Isles are still subject to damaging fishing practices such as bottom trawling.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption, The seas cannot be forgotten in the talks, warn environmental groups

Dr Christine Tuckett says that they want the UK Government to show leadership internationally but also to deliver on their commitments at home.

A byelaw banning bottom-towed fishing in Dogger Bank, a big sandbank in the North Sea, is showing signs of success, according to an analysis by the group.

Sandy Luk is the CEO of the Marine Conservation Society.

Habitats can recover when the ocean is protected.

Some people think richer countries that have lost a lot of their wildlife should pay poorer countries to help restore nature.

There is an unresolved issue regarding how finance flows to poorer countries.

Scientists warn that protecting 30% of land and sea alone wouldn't be enough to stem the loss of flora and fauna.

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