by Peter Prokosch
We are currently living in turbulent, if not highly critical, times. In Germany, the term “Zeitenwende” (turning point) has been coined for this. Insecurity and fears are spreading. Is it still appropriate to think about visions such as achieving the 30×30 target? I am convinced: yes! It is perhaps even more important than ever to develop not only a sense of reality but also a sense of possibility. In my field—nature conservation—I remain at least committed to global collaboration to count on positive surprises, making them more likely to happen.
The more of us pursue the same goals and visions – and the 30×30 nature conservation target, along with the 1.5-degree climate target, is one of the most critical targets for the world’s future, agreed by the entire global community – the more likely we are to achieve it. Tourism can and must play an essential role in this. Let us, therefore, increase our community, which spreads visions for an Effective Global Network of Protected Areas. We may inspire others by sharing News, Moments, Opportunities, and Positive Surprises.
Perhaps it would be possible to reach more and more of the many hundreds of millions of tourists who continue to visit national parks and other protected areas every year. They and the tourism industry should get to know the presently 53 LT&C-Examples, learn from them and advocate for more such examples.
The former NGO Linking Tourism & Conservation (LT&C), of which I was a founding member, has now merged with Ecological Tourism in Europe (ETE) to form ETE-LT&C and is based in Germany.
One of the visions of VISION 52 on the way to the 30×30 target is to work with ETE-LT&C to ensure that the LT&C-Examples are at least doubled by 2030.
See also the letter, which went out to the former LT&C members: