THE BIGGER PICTURE

In our attempt to protect nature from people are we in danger of forgetting the importance of nature for people?

Though clearly well-meaning, the current High Ambition Coalition (HAC) for Nature and People may be leading us in the wrong direction. HAC contends that “half of the planet must be kept in a natural state” and advocates that a “credible and necessary interim goal is to achieve a minimum of 30% protection by 2030”.

The so-called 30X30 campaign already includes almost 60 countries, including a growing number from Africa – Angola, Benin, Botswana, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Senegal and Uganda. Others across the continent, including South Africa, are also likely to join. These countries