30×30

The global goal of 30×30
— to protect at least 30% of our land, freshwater, and marine environments by 2030 —

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Nature’s future is in our hands

New South Wales is home to an extraordinary diversity of landscapes and ecosystems, from alpine snowfields and cool temperate forests to lush subtropical rainforests, arid and semi-arid interiors, and rich coastal and marine environments including reefs, kelp forests, rivers and estuaries.

These places support unique wildlife and provide essential services that we rely on for clean air, water, wellbeing and recreation. Yet our natural world is under severe pressure, with around 1,000 animal and plant species currently listed as threatened and at risk of extinction.

 

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Land

NSW is home to some of Australia’s most endangered and charismatic species, such as the Koala and Greater Glider, iconic flora including the NSW Waratah, and striking invertebrates like the bright pink Mount Kaputar slug.

Our national parks are essential for safeguarding this biodiversity, providing secure habitat that helps prevent further extinctions.

Only around 10% of NSW is currently protected, and despite the establishing of the world’s second national park, Royal created in 1879, progress in expanding the protected area network has been remarkably slow.

Achieving the global “30×30” target will require NSW to significantly accelerate conservation action.

Ending public native forest logging and securing permanent protection for the state’s remaining large, intact forest landscapes, particularly in southern NSW, is now vital to prevent further biodiversity decline and ensure NSW’s unique wildlife and ecosystems can endure.

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Marine and Saltwater

Dip your head underwater and you’ll discover a wealth of East Coast species found nowhere else on Earth — from rare corals and the White’s Seahorse, endemic to NSW, to Weedy Sea Dragons and the Australian Sea Lion.

For too long, our marine environments have been neglected — out of sight and out of mind. While 35% of NSW’s marine environment is technically “protected” on paper, in reality less than 7% is fully safeguarded from fishing and other extractive activities.

Marine sanctuaries are our best tools not only to provide refuge for marine life but also to reverse species decline. Safe havens allow fish to grow bigger — and the bigger the fish, the more eggs they produce, boosting entire ecosystems.

It’s time to turn the tide on the failure to protect our marine life by ensuring:

• No-take marine sanctuaries are expanded to cover at least 30% of existing marine parks.
• Marine sanctuary coverage is extended beyond marine parks to fill major gaps, including around Sydney and along the Sapphire Coast.
• Aquatic Reserves (AR), an under-utilised tool, are leveraged to expand protection, including upgrading existing ARs to full marine sanctuary status.

Freshwater

We are all dependent on healthy rivers, creeks, wetlands and groundwater systems — they are the lifeblood of NSW, sustaining farmlands, people and wildlife. These waterways are home to unique species like Platypus, Eastern Long-necked Turtle and the Murray Cod. Yet our freshwater ecosystems are in rapid decline and remain some of the least-protected in the state.

Our rivers and wetlands are under immense pressure, struggling to cope with water extraction, drought, pollution, development, and manipulation of natural flows.

Many of our native freshwater fish are listed as rare and endangered. Improving connectivity of our rivers and creating NSW’s first freshwater protected area network would safeguard their future by establishing living sanctuaries — places where water flow freely and nature can recover and thrive.

This is a chance to restore fish populations, secure cleaner water, and reconnect our waterways for generations to come.