Within the protected areas community we are often reminded that the 17% and 10% targets, although laudable, were determined as part of an international negotiation and aren't necessarily science-based targets for Canada. We've heard of initiatives like “Nature Needs Half” and that much higher levels of protection would be needed to conserve biodiversity effectively.
Percentages are an important goalpost, or milestone, but we can certainly surpass those standards. There are studies at the global level showing that even reaching 17% and 10% will not effectively conserve all the global biodiversity at risk.