By 2020, at least 17 per cent of terrestrial and inland water, and 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscapes and seascapes.

To improve the condition of affected ecosystems, combat desertification/land degradation, promote sustainable land management and contribute to land degradation neutrality

Indicators

UNCCD indicators:

• SO 1-1 Trends in land cover
• SO 1-2 Trends in land productivity or functioning of the land
• SO 1-3 Trends in carbon stocks above and below ground
• SO 1-4 Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area

SDG indicators:

• 15.3.1 Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area

CBD indicators:

• A.2 Extent of natural ecosystems
• 2.2 Area under restoration 
• Extent of natural ecosystems by type (Component indicator under target 2)
• Proportion of total land area that is under cultivation (Complementary indicator under target 1)
• Above-ground biomass stock in forests (tonnes/ha)  (Complementary indicator under target 8)
• Changes in soil organic carbon stocks (Complementary indicator under target 10)
• Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area (Complementary indicator under target 10)

By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes

Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development

Explanation: Steps will be taken to establish ecologically representative, well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, to ensure that, among others, the connectivity of all areas of importance for migratory species – as well as other areas that may be ecologically linked to them – is preserved. This could include permanent or temporal legal protection measures to ensure migratory ranges and their habitats are maintained, restored, effectively conserved and managed, and provide important biological functions such as opportunities for feeding, resting and habitat for reproduction.

The ecological character of Ramsar sites is maintained or restored, through effective planning and integrated management.

Baseline

• At COP12, 973 Ramsar Sites have implemented management plans. (National Reports to COP12).
• Number of Ramsar Sites that have effective, implemented management plans. (Data source: new National Report question).
• 27% of Parties have made assessments of effective management of Ramsar sites. (National Reports to COP12).
• 43% (950 of Ramsar Sites have updated Ramsar Information Sheets. (Report of the Secretary General pursuant to Article 8.2 COP12 Doc.7).

Indicator

• Number of Ramsar Sites that have effective, implemented management plans. (Data source: National Report).
• Number of Ramsar Sites that have effective, implemented management planning. (Data source: new National Report question).
• % of Parties that have made assessments of effective management of Ramsar Sites. (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Ramsar Sites that have updated Ramsar Information Sheets. (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).

Possible further indicators that may be developed

• {Coverage of wetland dependent bird populations by designated Ramsar Sites. Indicator from Resolution IX.1 to be developed}.
• {Coverage of wetland dependent non-avian populations by designated Ramsar Sites. Indicator from Resolution IX.1 to be developed}.
• {% loss of IUCN Red Listed species from Ramsar Sites}

There is a significant increase in area, numbers and ecological connectivity in the Ramsar Site network, in particular under-represented types of wetlands including in under-represented ecoregions and Transboundary Sites.

Baseline

• By COP12, 2,186 Ramsar Sites have been designated. (Ramsar Sites database).
• By COP12 2,085,000 ha of Ramsar Sites have been designated. (Ramsar Sites database).
• By COP12 [16] transboundary Ramsar Sites have been designated. (Ramsar Secretariat).
• By COP12, Ramsar Sites have been designated for the following under-represented Ramsar Sites:
  • Karst and other subterranean hydrological systems – [110 Sites]
  • Coral reefs – [96 Sites]
  • Wet grasslands – [517 Sites]
  • Peatlands – [564 Sites]
  • Sea-grass beds – [249 Sites]
  • Mangroves – [280 Sites]
  • Temporary Pools – [729 Sites]
  • Bivalve (shellfish) reefs – [99 Sites]
  • (Ramsar Sites database, June 2015).

Indicator

• Number of Ramsar sites that have been designated. (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).
• Total hectares of Ramsar sites that have been designated. (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).
• Number of transboundary Ramsar Sites that have been designated. (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).
• Number of Ramsar Sites designated for the following underrepresented wetland types:
  • Karst and other subterranean hydrological systems – [XXX Sites]
  • Coral reefs – [XXX Sites]
  • Wet grasslands – [XXX Sites]
  • Peatlands – [XXX Sites]
  • Sea-grass beds – [XXX Sites]
  • Mangroves – [XXX Sites] T
  • emporary Pools – [XXX Sites]
  • Bivalve (shellfish) reefs – [XXX Sites]
  • (Data source: Ramsar Sites database).

Sites that are at risk of change of ecological character have threats addressed.

Baseline

• At COP12, [47] Ramsar Sites (2.2%) are listed on the Montreux Record. (Report of the Secretary General pursuant to Article 8.2 COP12 Doc.7).
• 21% of Parties have reported to the Ramsar Secretariat all cases of negative human- induced change or likely change in the ecological character of Ramsar sites pursuant to Article 3.2. (National Reports to COP12).
• [76] Ramsar Sites reported by Parties to the Ramsar Secretariat of negative human-induced change or likely change in the ecological character of Ramsar Sites pursuant to Article 3.2. (Data source: Report of the Secretary General pursuant to Article 8.2 COP12 Doc.7).
• 16% of Parties have taken actions to address the issues for which Ramsar sites have been listed on the Montreux Record. (National Reports to COP12).

Indicator

• Number of Ramsar Sites removed from the Montreux Record. (Data source: Ramsar Site database).
• % of Parties reporting to the Ramsar Secretariat all cases of negative human-induced change or likely change in the ecological character of Ramsar Sites pursuant to Article 3.2. (Data source: National Reports).
• Number of Ramsar Sites reported by Parties to the Ramsar Secretariat of negative human-induced change or likely change in the ecological character of Ramsar Sites pursuant to Article 3.2. (Data source: National Reports).
• % of Parties that have taken actions to address the issues for which Ramsar Sites have been listed on the Montreux Record. (National Reports to COP12).

Possible further indicators that may be developed

• {Indicator(s) relating to (numbers of) Ramsar Sites at risk}