SDG 15 — Life on Land

7 min readApr 26, 2020

By Manon Dangelser

1- Introduction

Climate change is the 21st century biggest challenge. Now more than ever, in the context of a worldwide health pandemic, we are questioning our actions and how we could reverse the damage. Is Mother Earth sending us a message? I believe so. 2019 was a wake-up call, as we experienced destructive forest fires in Brazil and bushfires in Australia that destroyed millions of hectares, more extreme events such as floods, earthquakes, cyclones occurring worldwide, and severe droughts (India, Summer 2019) that jeopardised millions of lives. Last year was just a glimpse of what we can expect in the near future. Though forcing upon us a global lockdown, Covid-19 has given the planet some time to breathe, and had the merit to show us what we really need as a species: food, shelter, connection to nature and other human beings. I believe that the Sustainable Development Goal Life on Land encompasses this connection to nature, and the new action plan we have to deploy to save the planet from ourselves.

2- SDG 15: Life on Land

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. (1)

2.1- Fundamentals

Do you remember learning about the water cycle, food web, and ecosystems at school? I was around 10 years old and found the notion of interconnection between living species fascinating. The shark eats the small fish, the small fish eats plants, worms and other things; and we too eat the fish. The bees collect pollen and nectar for food while pollinating; giving plants the chance to reproduce.

There are 8 main ecosystems co-existing on our planet, functioning as an ecological unit: temperate forest, tropical rain forests, deserts, grasslands, the taiga, the tundra, the chaparral and the ocean (Encyclopedia of Global Warming and Climate Change, Volume 1). Life on Land relates to all terrestrial systems (forests, lands, deserts). These ecosystems are sensitive to change, and the disruption induced by human activities lead to a significant loss.

2.2- Data and Statistics (2)

· Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood.

· Forests are home to more than 80 per cent of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects

· 74% of the poor are directly affected by land degradation globally

· Of the 8,300 animal breeds known, 8 per cent are extinct, and 22 per cent are at risk of extinction

· Over 80% of the human diet is provided by plants. Only three cereal crops — rice, maize and wheat — provide 60% of energy intake.

· As many as 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant-based medicines for basic healthcare.

3- SDG 15: Key challenges

3.1- Climate Change

Climate change (caused by human activities) has a significant impact on Life on Land. It is the cause for the increase of frequency in extreme events such as wildfires, droughts and floods. These events lead to biodiversity and land destruction, and force populations to move, to find shelter elsewhere or end up in poverty. Activists worldwide have been urging world leaders to take significant action to slow down climate change.

We have already experienced heat records the past years, and this will not stop if we are not reducing our carbon emissions drastically worldwide. The World Meteorological Organization reported that the average global temperature has risen by about 1.1°C since the pre-industrial era. At the current rate, we are heading towards a temperature increase of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius by the end of the century (4), which would be catastrophic for all beings on Earth, including humans.

3.2- Deforestation

Deforestation is the second-leading cause of climate change after fossil fuels (UN). Forests provide a unique habitat for biodiversity. They are replaced by crops (palm oil, soy) and cattle land, or destroyed for wood. Every second, an area the size of a soccer field is lost to deforestation, and with it the life depending on it.

Forests are called the lungs of the planet because they play a key role in sequestering CO2. Tropical trees alone are estimated to provide about 23% of the climate mitigation needed, according to the World Resources Institute. (5)

3.3- Agriculture

Cropland expansion leads to desertification as forests are converted in agricultural land, which exacerbates drought conditions.

Intensified agriculture drains the soil and does not give it time to recover — this turn lands into deserts where nothing can grow anymore, leaving population and animals out of food.

3.4- Loss of biodiversity

This century is facing a high number of species extinction, due to the destruction of habitat, poaching, illegal trade of exotic animals and introduction of invasive species that disturb native ones. Around one million animal and plant species are threatened with extinction. (6)

In honour of Mother Earth Day 2020 celebrated on the 22nd of April, the United Nations published an article on linkages observed between health and biodiversity. The diversity of species would make it difficult to pathogens to spread rapidly (6), which implies that the loss of biodiversity would be directly linked to the risk of new diseases to humans.

The pangolin, a curious harmless animal, has been trafficked for the last 10 years for its scale (traditional medicine) and skin (leather). It is the illegal trade of this animal in Wuhan that led to the 2020 worldwide health pandemic, illustrating the very close link between our actions and consequences for our species.

Another link to identify is the one between biodiversity and food. We depend on insects for our food and lost about 25% of insects since 1990. Rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere are reducing the nutrients in plants, significantly cutting the number of grasshoppers in crops and disturbing the grasslands ecosystem. (7)

4- SDG 15: Rescue plan

4.1- Global scale

We are not on track to achieve the 2020 targets set out by the UN but can continue working towards them.

The following actions (non-exhaustive list) would need to be implemented at a global level:

1. Protect natural resources. Protected areas have increased by 12–13% from 2000 to 2018 (1), which is positive. We need to create more natural reserves and conservations areas that are a sanctuary for wildlife.

2. Halt deforestation by making it illegal in critical areas that are habitats for unique species worldwide, such as the Amazon, to protect local ecosystems and tribes.

3. Enforce environmental laws in each country to protect wildlife, forests and other Life on Land ecosystems.

4. Significantly reduce our greenhouse gases emissions. Governments need to commit to an ambitious target to cut carbon emissions by 2050 (more than 50%). This will slow down climate change and restore a better quality of life for wildlife to recover.

5. Build sustainable constructions. Reuse materials. Consider the whole life cycle of products.

6. Rethink global consumption: consumption of meat is too high and unsustainable. We need to reduce our dependence on livestock and turn towards a more vegetarian culture worldwide. This will reduce the need for deforestation too.

7. Promote sustainable farming practices to halt land degradation, and encourage sustainable management of forests by replanting trees.

8. Halt poaching and the trade of endangered species. Stop poachers by mobilising financial resources to help rangers protecting endangered wildlife.

9. Introduce more green areas in cities with parks, green walls. Encourage vertical farming. Finance green projects, eco-neighbourhoods.

4.2- Individual scale

There are a lot of small actions that people can take on to protect Life on Land. I have listed 10 small actions below:

1. Help replanting trees. Sponsor a project. Use Ecosia for your online searches and plant a tree each time you search something: https://www.ecosia.org

2. Aim towards a zero waste life: reuse materials, buy sustainable clothes, use solid shampoo, bars of soap to reduce plastic waste, cook from scratch, etc.

3. Shop local. Bring reusable bags & refuse plastic where you can.

4. Support local farmers that practice sustainable farming.

5. Support associations (Greenpeace, WWF, local groups). Sign petitions. Donate if you can. http://www.endwildlifetraffickingonline.org

6. Volunteer. Take part in beach cleaning. Sign up to local actions.

7. Buy certified wood products.

8. Choose an energy-efficient heating system for your home and good insulation.

9. Choose to consume less meat.

10. Use your right to vote to elect politicians who will fight for the environment.

5- Conclusion

Protecting Life on Land is one of the main goals of the 21th century. We need to protect our forests and lands to preserve biodiversity and protect ourselves, as we are all connected. Though we need action from our world leaders to protect biodiversity, we can start each of us to do small actions towards a greener world.

Why not start by joining the #togetherband campaign and support your favourite goal by wearing a bracelet, as a first step to raising awareness? (money goes to charities and projects that impact the Goals in a positive way).