30 June 2026

In December 2022, more than 190 countries committed to achieve ‘30×30’ under Target 3 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, which calls for the effective protection and management of 30% of the world’s terrestrial, inland water and coastal and marine areas by the year 2030.

In marine areas, however, the world has continued to lag behind in its progress toward meeting this target: currently, just 3.5% of the ocean is under full or effective protection, far short of the 30% goal.

While many countries have demonstrated the will to accelerate progress toward the 30×30 target, there remains a critical need for clearer, more accessible information about what progress is being made, where gaps persist, and why marine conservation matters, so that communities and decisionmakers can take appropriate actions and ensure that those in power are held accountable to their commitments.

To help fill this gap, EJN’s Global Accountability on 30×30 initiative is providing 34 story grants to journalists from nine coastal countries around the world to report on progress toward the marine aspects of the 30×30 target.

Of these, 26 grants will support reporting on marine protected areas (MPAs) and related conservation developments in Ghana, Mexico and the Philippines—countries that are home to globally significant marine biodiversity and offer important insights into both the challenges of MPA implementation and promising, community-driven approaches to marine conservation.

The selected grantees are:

Philippines

Sherwin G. De Vera, Northern Dispatch

Angela Denise R. Gonsalves, Sustina Earth

Joanna Rose Aglibot, Philippine Daily Inquirer

Lucelle Bonzo Casilao, Davao Today

Jan Elmer Badilla, Palawan News

Patricia Aquino, Pumapublic Productions

Rhick Lars Vladimer Albay, Eco-Business

Jewel Salazar Cabrera, Mongabay

Francis Dave Soriano Orcio, ABS-CBN Corporation

Mexico

Ãngel Adrian Huerta Garia, Animal Político

Patricio Medina Herrero, Mongabay

Paola Martínez Gutiérrez, LATE

Kiado Cruz, Agenda Propia y la Red Tejiendo Historias

Ana Alicia Osorio González, El Dictamen

Violeta Guadalupe Melendez Carranza, Canal 44

Oscar Emilio Godoy, Inter Press Service

Flor de María Hernández Ramos and Rocío Flores Cruz, DisruptivoMx and Oaxaca Media

Ghana

Kingsley Elijah Hope, New Times Corporation

Peter Quao Adattor, EIB Network

Benedicta Gyimaah Folley, The Ghanaian Times and the African Portal

Emmanuel Gamson, Ghana News Agency

Caleb Nii Adjetey Ahinakwah, Myjoyonline

Joana Kumi, Daily Graphic / Graphic Online

Abraham Mensah, Media General (TV3, Onua TV, Connect 97.1FM)

Alex Ababio, Ghanaian Watch

Zubaida Ismail, Dialogue Earth

Global

Rafael de Carvalho Cardoso, Agencia Brasil (Brazil)

Héctor Gabriel Cossio López, El Mostrador (Chile)

Edwin Alonso Caicedo Ucros, El Tiempo (Colombia)

Andrea María Godínez Santos, El País América Futura (Guatemala)

Wulan Kusuma Wardhani, Magdalene (Indonesia)

Aditya Heru Wardhana, CNN Indonesia (Indonesia)

Virginia Tallone, Economia Circolare (Italy)

Ini Ekott, Pluboard (Nigeria)

With support from EJN, the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Oceans 5 and its Bloomberg Ocean Fund, the selected journalists will report on cross-sectoral marine-related stories, including those that examine countries’ progress toward the 30×30 target, the gaps between marine conservation commitments and on-the-ground implementation, the designation and effectiveness of MPAs, pressures from fisheries and coastal development, and the role of local and Indigenous communities in advancing conservation. Each grantee will also benefit from one-to-one editorial mentorship from experienced journalists with relevant thematic and regional expertise.

“As countries work toward the 30×30 target, it is critical that progress is not only measured in terms of the area covered, but also by how well MPAs are managed and how effectively local needs are reflected in their design and implementation,” said Jaime Cordes, EJN Program Officer. “These stories will help illuminate how marine protected areas are functioning in practice, while elevating the perspectives of coastal and Indigenous communities who are central to long-term conservation success.”

Stories produced through this initiative will be published on the EJN website and partner outlets, so stay tuned for more updates in the coming months