Preventing perverse outcomes from global protected area policy. Shifting the focus from quantity to quality to avoid perverse outcomes.

Aichi Target 11 focuses on protected areas. While it has galvanized expansion of the global protected area (PA) network, we highlight a lack of evidence that enlarging systems of PAs alone is associated with real biodiversity gains. We examine how prioritizing more area risks unintended perverse consequences. We consider the incentives underpinning this misguided focus on PA extent and suggest a new paradigm for PA target development: shifting the focus from quantity to quality to achieve improved biodiversity outcomes.