The global decline of biodiversity is one of the greatest ecological challenges of our time. With the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the international community of states committed in 1992 to halt the loss of species and habitats and to establish a globally representative and effectively managed system of protected areas. Germany implemented this commitment by ratifying the CBD in 1993 and through the National Biodiversity Strategy (NBS 2007). The National Biodiversity Strategy for the period up to 2030 (NBS 2030) continues on this path, responds to new developments, and takes up international agreements such as the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, including the target of effectively protecting at least 30 per cent of terrestrial and marine areas. Despite these far-reaching objectives, there remains a need for action in the protection of species and habitats, making it all the more urgent to consistently review and further develop the management of protected areas.
