A thriving Earth sustains all life. We are deeply interconnected with the planet’s ecosystems, yet human activities have caused significant damage through deforestation, habitat loss, and land degradation. Safeguarding biodiversity and ensuring the sustainable use of our land resources is not just an environmental imperative; it is crucial for our own survival and well-being.
The Targets
Everyone can contribute to achieving the Global Goals. Let us explore the twelve targets designed to protect and restore life on land:
- Target 15.1: Conserve and Restore Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecosystems: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems, including forests, wetlands, mountains, and drylands, while upholding international agreements.
- Target 15.2: End Deforestation and Restore Degraded Forests: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable forest management practices, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and significantly increase global afforestation and reforestation efforts.
- Target 15.3: End Desertification and Restore Degraded Land: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including areas affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
- Target 15.4: Ensure Conservation of Mountain Ecosystems: By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, to enhance their capacity to provide essential benefits for sustainable development.
- Target 15.5: Protect Biodiversity and Natural Habitats: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt biodiversity loss, and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
- Target 15.6: Promote Access to Genetic Resources and Fair Sharing of the Benefits: Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources and ensure appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed.
- Target 15.7: Eliminate Poaching and Trafficking of Protected Species: Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna by addressing both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.
- Target 15.8: Prevent Invasive Alien Species on Land and in Water Ecosystems: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems, and control or eradicate priority species.
- Target 15.9: Integrate Ecosystem and Biodiversity in Governmental Planning: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies, and accounting systems.
- Target 15.A: Increase Financial Resources to Conserve and Sustainably Use Ecosystem and Biodiversity: Mobilise and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Target 15.B: Finance and Incentivise Sustainable Forest Management: Mobilise 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, including for conservation and reforestation.
- Target 15.C: Combat Global Poaching and Trafficking: Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Things You Can Do
- Support a Goal 15 charity: Every contribution, no matter how small, can make a significant impact on conservation efforts.
- Reduce your environmental footprint: Minimise paper consumption by opting for digital alternatives whenever possible.
- Adopt, do not shop: Instead of purchasing pets, visit your local animal shelter and consider adopting a loving companion.
- Choose cruelty-free products: Make conscious consumer choices by selecting products that are not tested on animals.
- Recycle responsibly: Recycle paper, glass, plastic, metal, and old electronics to divert waste from landfills.
- Embrace composting: Composting food scraps reduces waste and enriches the soil, benefiting local ecosystems.
- Become a community steward: Participate in local park and forest clean-up events to help maintain the health of these vital ecosystems.
- Support sustainable gardening practices: Avoid the use of harmful pesticides to protect soil health and biodiversity.
- Volunteer for wildlife conservation: Support local animal shelters and organisations dedicated to protecting endangered species.
- Stay informed and engaged: Follow local news and stay connected with the Global Goals online or on social media at @TheGlobalGoals.
By taking these steps, we can all contribute to a thriving planet where humans and nature coexist harmoniously.