• Biodiversity
• Climate Change

Delivering 30×30: Regions turning global biodiversity commitments into coordinated territorial action

Across Québec, biodiversity faces growing pressures from habitat loss, climate change, and increasing development. In response, the Government of Québec has committed to conserving 30% of its continental and marine environments by 2030. Reaching this goal- often referred to as “30×30” – a worldwide initiative for governments to designate 30% of Earth’s land and ocean land as protected areas by 2030 – requires broad participation, practical tools, and shared responsibility.

Inviting society to propose new protected areas 

In spring 2024, Québec launched a public call for protected area proposals in southern Québec, a region rich in biodiversity but under increasing development pressure. Instead of identifying new protected areas internally, the government invited organizations, indigenous communities, and citizens to propose territories for conservation.

The call remained open until October 2024 and was designed to ensure strong local support. Continental proposals required endorsement from the relevant Regional County Municipality, while Indigenous-led projects required a resolution from the Council or governing body. Marine proposals were coordinated with federal authorities where needed.

Submitted projects were then discussed at regional dialogue tables, where local stakeholders worked together to identify priority areas and build consensus before government decision-making. Indigenous nations and communities could also follow a distinct submission pathway, allowing additional time for consultation. Final decisions on new protected areas on public land in southern Québec are expected in 2027.

Expanding the criteria for biodiversity conservation in Québec 

Achieving 30% of conservation cannot rely solely on traditional parks and reserves. For this reason, Québec developed clear guidelines for recognizing Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECMs) – areas that may not be designated protected areas but still deliver long-term biodiversity conservation.

These guidelines:

• Clarify eligibility criteria adapted to Québec’s legal and ecological context.
• Highlight the complementarity between OECMs and protected areas.
• Provide concrete examples of areas that may qualify.

To make participation accessible, Québec also developed practical tools:

• An online decision-support tool to assess potential OECMs.
• An interactive public map of protected areas and recognized OECMs.
• An official submission form.
• Support from Nature Québec, an NGO mandated to accompany proponents.

As of November 2025, 21 OECMs had been officially recognized, with more than 20 additional proposals under review.

Results and impact: Strong early participation 

The response to the call for projects showed significant engagement across Québec:

• More than 500 proposals were submitted for protected areas in southern Québec.
• 37 proposals came from Indigenous communities.
• 10 proposals focused on marine environments.

Following preliminary analysis and regional consultations:

• More than 400 continental proposals were discussed in November 2025, forming the basis for recommendations toward the 2027 governmental decision.
• In marine areas, gap analysis led to 4 additional proposals to strengthen ecological representativeness.

These numbers reflect not only policy ambition, but strong societal willingness to contribute to conservation.

Monitoring progress towards the 30×30 target

Québec’s 2024–2028 Action Plan identifies preliminary indicators aligned with the majority of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) targets.

A more comprehensive biodiversity indicator framework is currently being developed in consultation with ministries, academia, and Indigenous communities.

This ensures that conservation expansion is measured not only by area, but also by ecological representativeness, connectivity, and effective long-term management.

As Québec advances toward its 2030 objective, this monitoring process is strengthening transparency and accountability in the region.

Why this matters for COP17 

As preparations for COP17 move forward, implementation of the 30×30 target remains one of the clearest indicators of progress under the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework.

Québec’s experience shows that achieving 30% conservation requires:

• Inclusive governance and structured participation.
• Clear and accessible guidance.
• Practical tools that empower communities.
• Transparent dialogue mechanisms.

By combining public calls for proposals, Indigenous-led projects, regional dialogue tables, and Other Effective Conservation Measures (OECM) guidance, Québec shows how subnational governments can translate global biodiversity targets into operational, participatory frameworks.

Ultimately, Québec’s approach delivers a broader lesson for COP17: ambitious targets succeed when people are given the opportunity and the tools to help achieve them.

Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework targets addressed: 3, 21, 22, 23.
Focus areas: 30×30 conservation; Participatory governance; Protected areas; OECMs; Knowledge and decision-support tools; Multilevel collaboration. 

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