"Historic" agreement at the Montreal Biodiversity Summit to protect 30% of the planet by 2030

The nations of the world have adopted a historic agreement on Monday to reverse decades of environmental destruction, which threatens species and ecosystems around the planet, in a marathon

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Four years after the last agreement and after almost two weeks of

, the members of the Convention on Biological Diversity have approved a framework of action proposed by China, the country that presides over the meeting, with the only opposition from the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

"The deal is approved," said Chinese Environment Minister

, hammering his gavel at a plenary session that lasted until dawn in Montreal, Canada.

The announcement that was received with an ovation.

The

is a roadmap that aims to protect land and oceans and prevent mass extinction of species from accelerated pollution.

The text establishes

and providing 30,000 million dollars in annual aid for the conservation efforts of developing countries.

"Together we have taken

," said Steven Guilbeault, the environment minister of Canada, the summit's co-host country.

The creation of protected areas on at least 30% of the planet's land and waters, the best known of the 23 goals, has been described as the biodiversity equivalent of limiting global warming to 1.5°C. , included in the

2015 Paris Climate

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Biodiversity Summit: The "disputed" goal of protecting 30% of nature by 2030

• Drafting: CARLOS FRESNEDA (Environmental correspondent) London

Biodiversity Summit: The "disputed" goal of protecting 30% of nature by 2030

Currently, 17% of the land and 8% of the seas are protected.

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, guardians of 80% of the Earth's biodiversity, a demand widely demanded by representatives of these communities at the summit.

Regarding financing, the toughest issue these days, the approved text proposes reaching "

" in annual international aid for biodiversity by 2025 and "at least 30,000 million by 2030."

"It will not be enough"

"Most people say it's better than we expected on both sides, both for rich and developing countries. That's the sign of a good text," said

, Gabon's environment minister. .

"Moose, sea turtles, parrots, rhinos, rare ferns are among the

whose future prospects will be significantly improved" thanks to this pact, added Brian O'Donnell, from the NGO Campaign for Nature.

This text is "

forward in the fight to protect life on Earth, but it will not be enough," said Bert Wander, from the NGO Avaaz.

"Governments should listen to what the science says and rapidly increase their ambitions to

," he added.

Indeed, scientists warn that time is pressing: 75% of ecosystems have been

and more than a million species are in danger of extinction.

The previous decade-long pact, signed in

, achieved almost none of its goals, especially due to a lack of enforcement and monitoring mechanisms.

Financing tensions

Talks about available funds brought tensions to a boil over the course of

.

Until the last minute, representatives of China were still trying to convince the last countries that remained

of the preliminary text, especially several African states.

With Brazil at the helm, dozens of countries of the South asked those of the North, whom they accuse of having enriched themselves at the expense of their resources, to commit

for conservation.

This represents

for biodiversity.

In addition to subsidies, developing countries have also tried to push for the creation of a global fund dedicated to biodiversity, like the one

, to help them cope with climate damage.

Instead, China established as a commitment

part of the current Global Environment Facility (GEF), whose current operation is considered very deficient by the countries of the South.

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