Life on Land SDG 15" would cover the goal of protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems by ending deforestation, combating desertification, and protecting biodiversity. Key aspects include specific targets like achieving a land-degradation-neutral world by 2030, protecting mountain ecosystems, ending illegal wildlife trade, and the potential solutions like increasing investment in nature-based solutions and changing consumption habits.
Key themes in an SDG 15 article
Protection and restoration: The core mission is to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands.
Combating degradation: A major focus is on fighting desertification and restoring degraded land and soils, with a goal of achieving a land-degradation-neutral world by 2030.
Biodiversity conservation: Articles highlight the urgency of halting biodiversity loss and protecting endangered species from poaching and trafficking.
Sustainable management: This includes promoting sustainable forest management and protecting national parks and other protected areas from illegal resource extraction.
Economic and social dimensions: The articles often discuss how land degradation links to poverty, food insecurity, and inequality. They may also emphasize the importance of women's participation in conservation efforts and the need for fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
Potential solutions and actions discussed
Government policies: Implementing policies related to procurement, taxation, and regulation to assign economic value to ecosystem services and protect protected areas.
Increased investment: A significant increase in annual investment in nature-based solutions is needed to meet climate, biodiversity, and land degradation targets.
Individual actions: Shifting to more sustainable consumption patterns, such as reducing meat consumption, is proposed as a way to free up land for natural regeneration and preserve biodiversity.
Community involvement: Empowering local communities and ensuring women are part of decision-making in forest management can lead to better outcomes.
Examples of scholarly and informational articles
Many publishers, such as Springer Nature, feature research on SDG 15 in journals and books, covering topics like sustainable forestry and biodiversity conservation.
Articles can also be found on United Nations sites Welcome to the United Nations, UNDP, and other organizations that track progress and highlight challenges.