Sustainable Development Goal 15
Sustainable Development Goal 15
Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land
The United Nations has set 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to achieve by 2030, which aim to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure peace and prosperity for all. One of these goals is SDG 15: Life on Land, which focuses on protecting, restoring and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, halting and reversing land degradation, and stopping biodiversity loss.
Why is this goal important? According to the UN, forests cover 30 percent of the Earth's surface and provide vital habitats for millions of species, as well as important sources of food, medicine and fuel for billions of people. However, forests are under threat from deforestation, land degradation, climate change, invasive species, poaching and illegal wildlife trade. These threats have serious consequences for the health and well-being of both people and the planet. For example, deforestation and land degradation contribute to greenhouse gas emissions and reduce the capacity of ecosystems to adapt to climate change. Biodiversity loss reduces the resilience and productivity of ecosystems and undermines the provision of essential services such as pollination, pest control and nutrient cycling. Moreover, the loss of natural habitats and wildlife increases the risk of zoonotic diseases that can jump from animals to humans, such as COVID-19.
What are some of the targets and indicators for this goal? The UN has set 12 targets and 14 indicators for SDG 15, which cover various aspects of terrestrial ecosystems management and conservation. Some of these targets are:
- By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands
- By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
- By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
- By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development
- By 2020, take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
- By 2020, ensure fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources
- By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
- Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management
- Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species
- Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species
Some of the indicators for these targets are:
- Proportion of land that is covered by forest
- Proportion of important sites for terrestrial biodiversity that are covered by protected areas
- Progress towards sustainable forest management
- Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area
- Red List Index (a measure of extinction risk for species)
- Number of countries that have adopted legislative or policy frameworks for fair access to genetic resources
- Number of countries that have integrated ecosystem values into national accounts
How can we achieve this goal? Achieving SDG 15 requires collective action from governments, civil society, private sector, indigenous peoples and local communities. Some examples of actions that can be taken are:
- Implementing policies and laws that promote sustainable land use practices
- Investing in forest restoration and conservation initiatives
- Supporting indigenous peoples' rights to their lands and resources
- Promoting agroforestry and agroecology systems that enhance biodiversity and soil health
- Reducing food waste and shifting to more plant-based diets
- Raising awareness about the importance of biodiversity and ecosystem services
- Participating in citizen science projects that monitor wildlife populations
- Supporting organizations that work on wildlife protection and anti-poaching efforts
SDG 15 is a crucial goal for ensuring a healthy planet for ourselves and future generations. By protecting life on land, we can also contribute to other SDGs such as climate action (SDG 13), zero hunger (SDG 2), clean water (SDG 6), health (SDG 3) and poverty reduction (SDG 1). Let's work together to achieve this goal by 2030!
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