Seminar title: Beyond 30x30: Re-imagining success in ocean conservation |
Abstract: The global 30x30 campaign has galvanized ocean conservation, yet its focus on area-based targets has revealed critical shortcomings. In this talk, Angelo Villagomez challenges the conservation community to move “Beyond 30x30” by embracing a more holistic, equitable, and locally grounded approach. Drawing on two decades of experience—from the Mariana Trench to Washington, DC—Villagomez critiques the colonial legacy embedded in marine protected area (MPA) designations and highlights how Indigenous communities often bear the burden of protection while receiving few benefits. He proposes a new framework that prioritizes access, equity, and quality alongside quantity, emphasizing nearshore habitats like seagrass meadows, coral reefs, and coastal wetlands. These ecosystems, vital to biodiversity and coastal resilience, are often overlooked in favor of large, remote MPAs. Villagomez calls for metrics that reflect community engagement, cultural relevance, and ecological outcomes, not just acreage. By uplifting state and local leadership, integrating Indigenous knowledge, and resisting extractive paradigms, ocean conservation can evolve into a movement that truly serves both people and planet. This talk invites scientists, policymakers, and advocates to co-create a post-2030 vision rooted in justice, stewardship, and love for the ocean.