SDG 15: Life on land
Introduction:
The 15th SDG goal aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss. With over 80% of the earth's biodiversity living on land, the need to protect life on land has never been more crucial.
According to the United Nations, the loss of biodiversity is happening at an unprecedented rate, with over 1 million plant and animal species at risk of extinction, primarily due to human activities. The 15th SDG goal is essential in protecting life on land and ensuring that future generations have a healthy planet to live in.
Here are some statistics related to the 15th SDG goal:
1. Forests are essential for life on land. They cover 30% of the Earth's surface and provide habitats for over 80% of the Earth's biodiversity. However, deforestation and forest degradation continue to be significant problems. Between 1990 and 2020, the world lost over 420 million hectares of forest, an area larger than the size of South Africa (Source: UN).
2. Land degradation, including soil erosion and desertification, is a significant problem. It affects over 3.2 billion people worldwide and leads to the loss of 12 million hectares of productive land every year (Source: UN).
3. Biodiversity loss is happening at an alarming rate. According to the Living Planet Report 2020, the population sizes of mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, and amphibians have declined by an average of 68% since 1970 (Source: WWF).
4. Illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking threaten the survival of many species. In Africa, the elephant population declined by 111,000 between 2006 and 2015, primarily due to poaching (Source: WWF).
5. The 15th SDG goal is not just about protecting the environment. It also aims to provide economic benefits to communities through sustainable land use and tourism. Ecotourism has the potential to contribute to the conservation of ecosystems and biodiversity while providing jobs and income to local communities (Source: UN).
Conclusion:
The 15th SDG goal is vital in protecting life on land and ensuring that we have a healthy planet for future generations. Governments, businesses, and individuals must work together to address the challenges of deforestation, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. By protecting our forests, managing our land sustainably, and combatting illegal poaching and wildlife trafficking, we can make a difference in ensuring the long-term health of our planet.
Sources:
https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal15
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2018/03/more-action-needed-to-protect-life-on-land/
https://www.worldwildlife.org/pages/living-planet-report-2020
https://www.worldwildlife.org/threats/illegal-wildlife-trade
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Goal-15.pdf
Author: Hello, my name is Hari Vandana Konda and I am an IT and cloud sustainability enthusiast with a passion for maximizing the impact of technology in our world. I am a certified professional in Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Oracle. In addition, I am also a certified FinOps Practitioner which has given me a unique perspective on managing cloud costs and optimizing the overall financial health of organizations. My expertise in these cloud platforms, combined with my passion for sustainability, makes me an ideal author for discussions surrounding the intersection of technology and the environment.
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