“A new dimension in conservation”

Ms Lang, how serious is the situation? How fast and how far are we losing biodiversity?

Stefanie Lang: The situation is very serious. We are losing species at a breath-taking pace; faster and more dramatically than ever before in human history. On average, one species becomes extinct every eleven minutes, more than 100 each day. We have been observing the threat to large mammals like polar bears, tigers or primates for a long time, but we risk losing many other species as well. For example, we are also losing moose, tree species, birds and insects. Both of the latter are important pollinators and essential for global food production. So preserving biodiversity has become an issue of human survival. That is why we need to reverse the trend.

Is the coronavirus pandemic perhaps the most visible confirmation of what you have just told us?

You could say that, yes. Because the outbreak of the pandemic is also a result of our exploitation of nature throughout the world, and of the increasingly smaller space we leave for unspoiled nature. We are actually facing three crises simultaneously: we need to deal with climate change and all of its effects while continuing to combat global warming, we need to contain and ideally prevent pandemics, and we need to halt the massive loss of biodiversity.

But aren’t there already funds dedicated to this?

At the moment, only around 20 per cent of the world’s funds flow into conservation in developing countries. That is not enough especially since we need to significantly increase conservation areas. At present, around 16 per cent of terrestrial areas and around 8 per cent of marine areas are protected. That is not enough to reverse the trend. According to scientists, we would need to protect 30 per cent of terrestrial areas and 30 per cent of marine areas by 2030, in other words, within the next nine years. This is why the international community is currently discussing what is known as the 30x30 plan, which calls for protecting 30 per cent of the Earth with conservation areas by 2030. We will find out if we can drum up the necessary support after the next Conference of the Parties in November in Kunming, China. Germany is working towards this goal, but a global movement is what is needed.

What should conservation areas look like in order to satisfy your aspirations?

Conservation areas function when they have sufficient funds, well thought-out concepts, clear goals and a broad partnership with the local population. Potential conflicts of interest between use and conservation need to be carefully analysed and painstakingly balanced. Conservation can only work when people support it, not when the protection efforts adversely affect them. In many cases, local, sometimes indigenous populations are most familiar with nature; they have sustainable use concepts that have existed for hundreds of years. So protected areas and their local populations need joint support. That is our aspiration at the Legacy Landscapes Fund.

A sort of knowledge broker in conservation?

That’s right. Developing local solutions with local populations, seeing what works, and adding that to the international debate. That is how I view the LLF’s mission. We want to be a learning organisation.

Are you concerned that private actors might use the LLF for “green washing”?

We are currently working on a meticulous process for appraising companies that want to invest in the LLF, known as a due diligence process. It is important that we are clear and transparent here. Then we can avoid green washing.

The fund has been established and will be introduced to the general public in the next few days. What’s next?

Apart from the fact that we still have a lot of practical work that needs to be done to develop the fund – finding an office, hiring staff – the primary task will be in the pilot areas where we will begin our work. We are currently assessing seven candidates on three continents: four in Africa, two in Asia and one in Latin America. They are the Central Cardamom Mountains National Park in Cambodia, Gunung Leuser National Park in Indonesia, Odzala-Kokuoa National Park in DR Congo, North Luangwa National Park in Zambia, Geonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, Iona National Park in Angola and Madidi National Park in Bolivia. Then we will put out a public invitation to tender so that further conservation areas can submit applications, probably at the beginning of next year. Work is now progressing quickly.

The LLF was established based on a German initiative. Doesn’t the fund need to become more international to achieve the goals you describe?

Absolutely. The impetus came from Germany. That was a terrific first step. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and KfW boldly pushed the project forward. But to be successful in the long term, the fund needs to be built on a broad foundation – to grow into a global instrument.

How does this task appeal to you on a personal level?

For me, this position at the LLF is a dream job, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I have been active in conservation for over 20 years and can contribute a great deal to our work through the experience I’ve collected, primarily abroad. So setting up a new, promising fund is extremely exciting for me. But beyond my personal ambition, I am also absolutely convinced of the partner-based concept. I believe we can use it to set new standards. And we are in very urgent need of those. Because, by now, there is no doubt that humanity will only have a future if we stop living at nature’s expense. The LLF can and will make a difference here.