Conservationists from around the world have agreed upon a 10-year plan to increase and improve the protection of the earth's most sensitive and important environmental areas. The Durban Accord was signed by more than 2,500 delegates from 170 countries on the last day of the World Parks Congress in South Africa.
Securing the future of marine areas has been highlighted as the biggest challenge for the next decade.
The World Parks Congress started off by reflecting on the last decade of conservation, praising what has been done in the past.
But the meeting also looked towards the priorities for the next 10 years.
Coastal protection
One key challenge highlighted in the Durban Accord and the Durban Action Plan - two documents signed by the delegates - is the protection of coastal areas.
While just under 12% of the earth's surface is now protected in some form or other, only a fraction covers coastal or marine areas.
 Rocks remain where the Brazilian Niagara once stood |
The documents say that loss of habitats and estuaries, freshwater lakes, rivers and oceans are the greatest threats to biodiversity on the planet. The conference looked at how the world's protected areas are being managed and safeguarded.
It also looked into the importance of involving local communities in plans for the conservation.
The meeting also discussed trans-frontier parks - an instance of how international agreements can help conserve larger areas.
There were two major announcements:
- Madagascar promised to more than triple the size of land under protection
- Plans would be made to safeguard rare animals and plants in the rainforests of Brazil.
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
