Roadmap to 30x30: Minderoo Foundation commits $10 million towards securing sustainable financing for marine protected areas

11 Jun 2025 – Minderoo Foundation has committed US$10 million to unlock financing for marine protected areas (MPAs), aimed at reversing habitat and species loss.

The Marine 30x30 Finance Program, announced at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, will see Minderoo Foundation partner with Pew Charitable Trusts (Pew) and Conservation International, as part of the Blue Nature Alliance, to establish test cases in three target countries, and demonstrate the achievability of a worldwide initiative – colloquially known as 30x30 – for governments to designate 30 per cent of Earth’s land and ocean area as protected areas by 2030.

In addition, catalytic capital will be provided to help turn those financial plans into reality, helping to attract further financiers and investments.

“Biodiversity and habitats are declining faster than at any other time in human history,” Dr Andrew Forrest said. “Evidence shows that to secure healthy, productive and resilient ocean ecosystems, at least 30 per cent of land and sea needs to be safeguarded in conservation areas by 2030.”

Dr Forrest said as countries looked to implement their 30x30 ambitions, developing marine finance plans would be essential to success.

“Finance is one of the key roadblocks to effective implementation of marine protected areas (MPAs),” Dr Forrest said. “Few MPAs have sufficient funding or necessary finance plans, and this problem will only become more acute as countries work to achieve their 30x30 commitments. Given the fast-approaching deadline and the critical barrier that funding plays in achieving these commitments, countries need urgent support to develop national ocean finance plans.

“What Minderoo has announced today will help bridge the gap between ambitious targets and effective outcomes, ensuring that MPAs deliver real benefits for biodiversity, ecosystems, and coastal communities.”

Conservation International and Pew entered into a collaboration agreement in 2019 as the executing partners of the Blue Nature Alliance with the aim to catalyse conservation of 18 million square kilometres of ocean (5 per cent of the global ocean) to safeguard biodiversity, build resilience to climate change, promote human wellbeing, and enhance ecosystem connectivity and function.

Minderoo is a core partner in the Blue Nature Alliance together with the Global Environment Facility and the Rob Walton Foundation.

The aim of this program is to assist three countries in developing marine finance plans and mobilising capital to secure sustainable, long-term financing for 30 per cent protection of national ocean territories by 2030, while establishing a Marine 30x30 Community of Practice, and publishing a detailed guide on the step-by-step actions for countries to establish and operate a marine finance plan.

30x30 is a globally agreed target, originating from December 2022, when over 190 countries adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (also known as The Biodiversity Plan) – an international commitment to better protect biodiversity around the world.

The framework includes 23 targets aimed at reversing habitat and species loss. 30x30 specifically calls for the effective protection and management of 30 per cent of the world’s terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine areas by the year 2030.

Dr Forrest said “these cannot be merely ‘paper parks’ – MPAs that are legally designated but ineffective. We must improve the management effectiveness of MPAs through a systems approach that builds the skills and capacities of local practitioners while promoting continuous learning.”

Minderoo’s Head of Biodiversity and Habitats Dr Rebecca Wellard said: “Durable financing is essential to ensure marine protected areas are not just lines on a map, but effective, well-managed spaces that deliver lasting benefits for people and nature.

“A collaborative, flexible approach is essential to securing sufficient and sustained funding for implementation. Together, these principles will help countries deliver on 30x30 targets and build a sustainable ocean.”

Tags