Sustainable Development Goal 15: Halt And Reverse Land Degradation And Biodiversity Loss

About 13 million hectares of forests are destroyed each year while desertification claims more and more formerly fertile land. Taking better care of our global forested lands is the key to combating climate change, protecting biodiversity and preserving lives.

The UN presents many facts like these for each of their 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These 17 goals were first established in the 2012 Conference on Sustainable Development in Rio de Janeiro. Heads of state and diplomatic teams came together around a set of shared priorities for the most urgent environmental, political, and economic challenges facing the planet.

Here are more facts on how smarter energy and emissions policies will impact climate change:

Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood, including 70 million indigenous people. Forests are home to more than 80 percent of all terrestrial species of animals, plants, and insects.

Want to know more about Goal 15? Visit the Goal 15 targets site.

Ready to submit your idea on Land and Species?

Ideation: All forests contribute to the health of the biosphere, but the Amazon rainforest plays a critical role in the exchange of carbon dioxide and oxygen. Some scientists refer to the Amazon as the “lungs of the planet.” How can we preserve what we still have and expand the positive effects of the Amazon rainforest, as well as forests everywhere?

Ideation: The global die off of amphibians, much like the loss of bees, is a signal of a biosphere in critical condition. How can we preserve this vital link in the world’s ecosystems and prevent further damage in the future?