Area based targets, such as the global 30×30 initiative, are a primary tool for biodiversity conservation.
While area based targets are a worthwhile starting point for conservation, the protected areas (PAs) created through such initiatives must be connected in order to allow for movement and prevent the extinction of organisms. Connectivity between PAs allows animals to move between resource-rich areas in order to reproduce, migrate, find food, and more.
Many countries have signed pledges to achieve 30×30 through the 2022 Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In 2021, the United States committed to 30×30 in an executive order named “America the Beautiful.” Although this executive order was reversed in early 2025, many U.S. states such as New York and California have their own 30×30 pledges.
Frazier, A. E., Kedron, P., Yang, W., & Quan, H. 2024. America the Beautiful: Meeting “30 × 30” conservation goals through connected protected areas. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 1–17. DOI:10.1080/24694452.2024.2410008.
Despite a changing political context, assessing extent and connectivity of protected areas is crucial to preserving biodiversity and determining the efficacy of area-based conservation targets. Research has shown that individual PAs are often too small to sustain stable populations, especially populations of large carnivores and migratory species.
A new assessment looks at the extent and connectivity of protected areas in the United States at four administrative levels: 1) the continental United States, 2) the 12 Department of Interior regions, 3) the 56 states and territories, and 4) the 21 EPA level 2 ecoregions. It finds that less than 3% of the continental United States is both connected and protected.
When examined at a smaller scale, there was considerable variation in protections. For example, Alaska has almost 26% protected and connected, while 17 states have less than 2% of land connected and protected. In addition, the connectivity of PAs increased when the area examined was split into smaller units (a product of the modifiable areal unit problem). This result emphasizes the importance of consistency in reporting and assessing protections and connectivity. If we only examine our progress towards 30×30 at a state level, we could be overestimating the amount of land and water that is both connected and protected.
Strategic PA placement could improve the connectivity of PA networks at a state and national level. Conserving 30% of land and water is crucial to preventing mass extinction. Along with ensuring consistency in reporting, making connectivity a main consideration when designating protected areas will make America’s 30×30 efforts most impactful for our wildlife.
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