The global commitment to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030—known as the “30×30” target—is one of the most ambitious conservation goals ever adopted by the international community. Embedded in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, it represents a collective promise to halt biodiversity loss, safeguard ecosystem functions, and secure nature’s contributions to people (NCP). Yet for the tropics, which harbour the majority of the world’s terrestrial biodiversity and some of its most vulnerable human communities, 30×30 is not simply a numbers game. It forces hard questions about which lands get protected, how protection is enforced, and what counts as success.

The concept is important not only for global policy but also for frontline conservation science and practice in developing regions in the tropics. It tackles how a binding global target can drive national expansion of protected and conserved areas. It also raises critical questions: Are we expanding protection into places that truly matter for biodiversity or simply the cheapest and most politically convenient lands? How do we prevent “paper parks” from inflating progress while delivering little on the ground? Can the 30×30 framework respect Indigenous rights and local livelihoods, while engaging them equitably in the governance? How should we measure and safeguard the material and immaterial benefits that nature‑dependent communities derive from intact ecosystems? And in a rapidly changing climate, how do we design protected area networks that remain functional as connected landscapes?

The panel is moderated by Prof. Binbin Li (Duke Kunshan University) and brings together four leading experts: Prof. James Watson (University of Queensland), Prof. Carly Cook (Monash University), and Prof. Jedediah Brodie (University of Montana). Together, they will examine how 30×30 can move beyond counting hectares—toward quality, justice, and lasting impact for tropical biodiversity and people.