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Eight years before the agreement, Colombia exceeded the goal of 30% of marine protected areas Additionally, nine million hectares will be No-Take; this represents a giant step towards conservation. The Global Alliance for the Oceans set this goal for the year 2030. Today, President Iván Duque and the Minister of the Environment, Carlos Eduardo Correa, confirmed its fulfillment. It went from having 12,454,011 hectares (ha) of marine areas under protection (13.41%), to 30,132,769 ha, equivalent to 33% of the country's marine territory. Lisbon, June 28, 2022 -MADS-. In a groundbreaking event in conservation of natural resources, President Iván Duque Márquez announced to the world the fulfillment and surpassing of the protection goal of 30% of Colombia's marine territory, eight years before the deadline agreement in the Global Alliance for the Oceans. An articulated effort among the National Environmental System (SINA) institutions, academy and science, led to the declaration of new protected areas and the expansion of existing ones, going from 12,454,011 hectares (ha) of marine areas under protection (13.41%), to 30,132,769 ha, equivalent to 33% of the country's marine territory, exceeding the proposed goal. The important announcement was made by President Duque at the Oceans Conference in Lisbon, accompanied by Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Carlos Eduardo Correa, among other government representatives, in an event in which world leaders and organizations deal with seas and the climate. ¨We came here with results¨: President Duque Desde la pasada cumbre mundial de cambio climático COP26 de Glasgow (Reino Unido), en noviembre de 2021, donde el presidente se comprometió a cumplir esta meta antes de que terminara su mandato, este tema adquirió mayor importancia para el Gobierno Nacional, las entidades del SINA y el ministro Correa, quien personalmente sacó adelante, con apoyo de un gran equipo de trabajo, aliados y socios nacionales y extranjeros, este logro que significa mecanismos de protección y más vida para los océanos del país. Since climate change summit COP26 in Glasgow (United Kingdom), in November 2021, the president promised to meet this goal before the end of his term. This issue has acquired greater importance for the National Government, the SINA entities and Minister Correa, who personally carried out this achievement that means protection mechanisms and more life for the country's oceans thanks to a great work team, allies and national and foreign partners. “Thanks to the coordination with the Science Academy, the leadership of Minister Correa and the support of the international scientific community, during this administration we went from 12 million hectares of marine protected areas to 30 million. It is also important to mention that fishing is prohibited on nine million hectares, another great achievement. But we are not stopping there, we have about 40 more days to work to reach this great extension of continental protected areas. I know we are going to achieve it”, President Duque announced. The president added: “We know that our presidency is coming to an end, I will close my government on August 7, but the rest of my life I will continue working with everyone as an environmentalist, so more countries can reach their 30 before 30. I am thrilled to see that a country like Colombia arrives on this stage not with commitments, but with results”. Our country´s natural wonder allowed us to grow The new protected areas are the Cordillera Submarina Beata Natural Reserve, with an area of 3,312,547 ha, and Colinas y Lomas del Pacífico, with an approximate area of 2,740,732 ha (the latter, under review by the Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences). To expand the existing ones, the Malpelo Fauna and Flora Sanctuaries were increased, reaching 4,788,963 ha, growing by 43%, as well as the National District of Integrated Management Yuruparí-Malpelo, increasing by 78% with up to 12,314,861 ha. ¨This fills us with pride¨: Minister Correa For Minister Carlos Eduardo Correa, this great effort ranks Colombia in one of the top countries committed to the care and protection of its oceans. “This fills us with pride, today our country has modern legal tools that strengthen and protect our immense biodiversity, the Climate Action Law and the Environmental Crimes Law, among others. With this announcement made by President Duque on behalf of all Colombians, we are fulfilling the planet, we are taking enormous steps towards its conservation. Protecting 30% of our marine territory in 2022, is a milestone, a great cause for celebration," said the minister. Correa explained that thanks to large investment in marine research, almost $15,000 million COP, and with two scientific expeditions in strategic marine environments, valued for their uniqueness and biodiversity. We carried out activities with the Institute of Marine and Coastal Research (Invemar), and other research with international collaborations, such as National Geographic. The Ministry highlights a special expedition among many others: the research carried out by Invemar with environmental DNA, which makes this institute a world pioneer in deep waters, capturing the richness in biodiversity and the biogeographic relationships of the oceanic basins of the Caribbean and the Colombian Pacific. At the United Nations Oceans Conference in Lisbon, the president and the minister emphasized the good relationships with neighbor countries and the articulated efforts to protect the largest marine area in the Western Hemisphere, through the Eastern Pacific Marine Corridor Tropical (CMAR), made up of protected areas in Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador and Colombia. Funding for 10 years Last week, Colombia´s Government announced a funding agreement of USD 245 million for the first stage of the Colombia Heritage program, led by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and National Natural Parks. This agreement will cover 33 million hectares of protected areas, in coordination with the founding partners of Herencia Colombia, international cooperators and donors, such as WWF, Conservation International, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, WCS, Natural Heritage Fund, Amazon Fund and TNC, the European Union, FAO, GCF, KFW, GEF Amazon Heart, and has the support of allies of the National Environmental System (SINA), such as the Humboldt, Invemar, SINCHI, IIAP, the Regional Autonomous Corporations (CAR) and Sustainable Development Institutes, among other entities, essential for the implementation of the program.