History
Launched in 2020, the Blue Nature Alliance is a global initiative designed to accelerate the pace, scale, and effectiveness of ocean conservation through partnership.
In 2022, as part of the historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, 196 nations agreed to protect at least 30% of coastal and marine areas by 2030 to maintain a functioning and resilient ocean.
They were guided by biodiversity science, indigenous knowledge and community voices, and an understanding of the inextricable importance of a healthy ocean for our survival.
At the start of this critical decade in the lead up to 2030, approximately 7.5% of the ocean was protected — a level that took nearly half a century of effort to achieve. Inspiring momentum from large-scale MPAs was accelerating progress, but it was clear that a radical shift would be critical to secure the protections at scale the planet needs.
To help alter this trajectory, five global organizations, each with a long track record of advancing large-scale ocean conservation, came together in 2020 to launch the Blue Nature Alliance — a collaborative initiative to catalyze the protection and conservation of 18 million square kilometers, or 5% of the global ocean (an area larger than the continent of South America).
The Core Partners were united by a belief that meeting this target will require the bold vision of government and community leaders, underpinned by technical expertise, financial resources, innovation, and respect for local communities.
It will also necessitate unprecedented levels of collaboration among governments, Indigenous peoples, philanthropists, scientists, and civil society.
Since its launch, the Blue Nature Alliance has has fostered a network of over 100 partners, including:
High-level government officials working to implement bold and transformative policies
Civil society organizations focused on marine protections
Local communities that depend on a healthy ocean ecosystem for their cultural, economic, and food security
Tom Dillon,
Senior Vice President
From the coastlines to the high seas, we need to tackle conservation holistically and in partnership. Our collective efforts will help secure a healthy ocean that is more resilient to climate change and yields benefits to both nature and people.
Carlos Manuel Rodriguez,
CEO and Chairperson
Conserving 30% of the world’s land and sea in the coming decade will require all of us to work together, with science as our North Star. Through the Blue Nature Alliance, we will be contributing significantly to the 30% global ocean conservation goal and ensuring we have momentum to build on as we strive for our 2030 ambitions.
Dr. Tony Worby,
CEO of Flourishing Oceans
Engaging with local communities is essential to the long-term success of ocean conservation efforts. Local communities rely on the ocean directly for livelihoods, cultural activities and recreation, so it is critical that they are involved in decision making that supports long-term sustainability. A measure of success for the Blue Nature Alliance will be to build community support for ocean conservation measures that are enduring.
Rob Walton,
Founder
Now is a critical time. The ocean is under immense pressure, and we all have a responsibility to help safeguard it.
M. Sanjayan,
Chief Executive Officer
Conservation International, together with the Blue Nature Alliance, is excited to be part of this incredibly important coalition. This is exactly how we save the nature humanity depends on: through collective global action from countries, communities, and the public and philanthropic sectors.
