The amendments to Annexes II and III of the Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Biological Diversity (SPA/BD Protocol), adopted during the 24th Conference of the Parties (COP24), held in Cairo, Egypt, from 2 to 5 December 2025, have entered into force.
The changes introduced incorporate the most recent scientific knowledge and reflect the latest developments in other key global biodiversity instruments.
They represent a significant step forward in regional legal frameworks for marine conservation and biodiversity, while still respecting the specific national contexts of the Contracting Parties.