Geography
Sustainable Development Goal 15
Sustainable Development Goal 15 aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss. It emphasizes the importance of conserving and sustainably using biodiversity, as well as promoting the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources.
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10 Key excerpts on "Sustainable Development Goal 15"
- Brian P. McCullough, Timothy Kellison, E. Nicole Melton, Brian P. McCullough, Timothy Kellison, E. Nicole Melton(Authors)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
Sustainable Development Goal 15: life on land
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44 An overview of Sustainable Development Goal 15
Melanie Sartore-BaldwinDOI: 10.4324/9781003023968-44While the majority of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals appear to focus on human life, SDG 15 is concerned with all life on land. Specifically, SDG 15 is to “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss” (General Assembly, 2015 , p. 14). Thus, the intent of SDG 15 and its associated targets (listed in Table 44.1) is to protect the relationships between all life forms and the habitats in which they live. While some may view this goal as separate from the goals focused on human life, a great deal of literature has identified the inextricable link between environmental health, nonhuman animal health, and human health (e.g., Wilcox et al., 2004 ). Further, some argue that the protection of biodiversity is inherent in all 17 goals, thus identifying the profound importance of SDG 15 (Opoku, 2019
- Pia Katila, Carol J. Pierce Colfer, Wil de Jong, Glenn Galloway, Pablo Pacheco, Georg Winkel(Authors)
- 2019(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
SDG 15 asks for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems along * Lead author. SDG 15: Life on Land 483 with the sustainable management of forests, combating desertification, halt- ing and reversing land degradation and halting biodiversity loss. Clearly, the pressures of population growth, economic development and increased consumption will only intensify the challenges for the maintenance of life on land. In this chapter we examine the opportunities and challenges that merit particular attention if we are serious about SDG 15 and reversing the decline of life on Earth. In principle, SDG 15 (Life on Land) is recognised as having equal prominence alongside other SDGs. As there are widespread calls for integration and explicit attention to synergies and trade-offs among SDG outcomes (Le Blanc 2015, Stafford-Smith et al. 2017), the existence of SDG 15 should result in conservation concerns and issues having a raised profile within the wider decision-making community. Unfortunately, this appears far from assured. Many people, especially in the biodiverse tropics, view conservation as a concern of rich Western nations with little relevance to immediate local needs. Western conservation agencies that focus on char- ismatic species and the concerns and preferences of Western audiences do little to dispel these preconceptions (Meijaard and Sheil 2008). At the same time, most people worldwide, including most politicians, policymakers and experts, now live in cities, where they are disconnected from nature and for- ests (Soga et al. 2016). A recent survey by Price Waterhouse Coopers found that in many countries SDG 15 and SDG 14 (Life below Water) are getting less attention than other SDGs (Scott and McGill 2018). Development and conservation are viewed as being in competition – and development is the more immediate priority.
- Jonas Ebbesson, Ellen Hey(Authors)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- Cambridge University Press(Publisher)
15 SDG 15: Protect, Restore and Promote Sustainable Use of Terrestrial Ecosystems, Sustainably Manage Forests, Combat Desertification, and Halt and Reverse Land Degradation and Halt Biodiversity Loss Elisa Morgera abstract This chapter illuminates the extent to which the targets of SDG 15, Life on Land, reflect the international obligations of, and guidance adopted under, the 1992 Convention on Biological Diversity as an umbrella convention with overarching legal principles and concepts. In doing so, it demonstrates the extent to which international human rights law can support joined-up implementation of the convention and other international environmental agreements with a view to realizing SDG 15 through policy coherence, notably in the context of land-based investments. keywords SDG 15, terrestrial biodiversity, land, sustainable use, conservation, human rights, investment, forest, desertification, wetlands, Indigenous peoples, international law 15.1 introduction The 2019 Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services report (Global Assessment report) underscored that the rate of global biodiversity degradation during the past fifty years is unprecedented in human history. 1 For instance, the average abundance of native species in most major terrestrial biomes has fallen by at least 20 per cent. As a result, current negative trends in biodiversity will undermine 1 Sandra Díaz et al., Summary for Policymakers of the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES Secretariat, 2019), 11, doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3553579. 376
eBook - ePubFulfilling the Sustainable Development Goals
On a Quest for a Sustainable World
- Narinder Kakar, Vesselin Popovski, Nicholas A. Robinson, Narinder Kakar, Vesselin Popovski, Nicholas A. Robinson(Authors)
- 2021(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
24 Using Terrestrial Ecosystems Sustainably and Halting Biodiversity Loss John G. Robinson and Federica PesceDOI: 10.4324/9781003144274-24Introduction
Nature is the foundation of our societies, our economies, and the existence and well-being of all people. Nearly half of the world’s population directly depends on natural resources for their livelihoods and more than half of the world’s total gross domestic product (GDP)—$44 trillion—is dependent on nature and its services.11 Nature Risk Rising: Why the Crisis Engulfing Nature Matters for Business and the Economy, World Economic Forum (Jan. 19, 2020), www.weforum.org/reports/nature-risk-rising-why-the-crisis-engulfing-nature-matters-for-business-and-the-economy .Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15 focuses on the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems and biodiversity, including halting desertification and land degradation and combating illegal trade of endangered species. Given the importance of the integrity of nature for the human endeavor, SDG 15 is a foundational goal for the other SDGs. This chapter assesses the progress, or lack of it, toward meeting specific SDG 15 targets designed to create action to protect and restore “Life on Land.” It will reflect on the importance of SDG 15 for the achievement of other SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (Agenda 2030) and consider policy pathways that will advance their implementation.Agenda 2030 builds on previous multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) and treaties. A number of targets for SDG 15 were derived from the Aichi2 Biodiversity Targets (Aichi Targets) and have a 2020 end date. This chapter is timely, therefore, as the international community considers its global commitments, and takes stock of the progress achieved.2 Aichi is the Prefecture in Japan which hosted the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in 2010. See Convention on Biological Diversity, Jun. 5, 1992, 1760 U.N.T.S. 69 (CBD); Summary of the Tenth Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, iisd reporting services: earth negotiations bulletin (Oct. 18–29, 2010), https://enb.iisd.org/vol09/enb09544e.html
No longer available |Learn more- Guo Huadong(Author)
- 2022(Publication Date)
- EDP Sciences(Publisher)
SDG 15 Life on Land Chapter 7 282 Big Earth Data in Support of the Sustainable Development Goals (2021): The Belt and Road Background SDG 15 states, “protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has been adopted for six years, yet humans still face a stern situation. Global forest area (SDG indicator 15.1.1) is steadily declining (FAO, 2020). About 75% of the global land surface is degraded (SDG indicator 15.3.1) (IPBES, 2019). Despite a continued increase in the proportion of key biodiversity areas (KBAs) covered by protected areas (SDG indicators 15.1.2 and 15.4.1), the Red List Index (SDG indicator 15.5.1) continues to decrease (UNEP, 2021). At the current rate of progress, the world is not on track to achieving SDG 15 by 2030 (United Nations, 2019). Evaluation of progress is the key to understanding where we are now, identifying gaps, and adopting effective interventions. With increased data availability and technical methods, eight of the fourteen indicators of SDG 15, Life on Land, are at Tier Ⅰ status (having both data and methodology). However, these indicators are mainly obtained on the basis of statistical methods, which are not scalable across geographic scales (global-regional-national-local), and many countries with limited data acquisition capabilities cannot provide data on a regular basis. Therefore, it is necessary to use cutting-edge technologies, such as Earth observation, artificial intelligence, and citizen science, to further carry out multi-scale spatial monitoring and evaluation of indicators and contribute data, methods, tools, and policy recommendations in support of SDG 15. This chapter focuses on three topics: forest protection and restoration, land degradation and mountain ecosystem protection.
eBook - PDFAtlas of Sustainable Development Goals 2018
From World Development Indicators
- World Bank(Author)
- 2018(Publication Date)
- World Bank(Publisher)
desertifica-tion, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world 15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosys-tems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development 15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the deg-radation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiver-sity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species 15.6 Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed 15.7 Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products 15.8 By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduc-tion and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and con-trol or eradicate the priority species 15.9 By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development pro-cesses, poverty reduction strategies and accounts 15.a Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use bio-diversity and ecosystems 15.b Mobilize 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 15.c Enhance global support for efforts to combat poach-ing and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities Goal 16 Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective,
No longer available |Learn moreWorld Economic and Social Survey 2014/2015
Learning from National Policies Supporting MDG Implementation
- United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs(Author)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- United Nations Publications(Publisher)
Chapter V Environmental sustainability Summary • Progress has been made in some environmental areas since 1990: Ozone-depleting substances have been virtually eliminated, and the ozone layer is expected to recover by the middle of this century; terrestrial and marine protected areas in many regions have increased substantially; 147 countries have met the drinking water target, 95 countries have met the sanitation target and 77 countries have met both; and the proportion of urban population living in slums in developing regions fell notably. • The international community must ensure that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) process gives way to necessary cooperation between developed countries and the large, fast-growing developing countries in order to meet carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) emission-reduction targets. • Efforts to protect forests will have to be combined with sustainable production and consumption patterns. It must be acknowledged that deforestation is caused by factors beyond the forest sector’s control, necessitating integral approaches. The special role of forests in the life and livelihood of people living in poverty and indigenous peoples should be given adequate attention. • Protection of certain terrestrial and marine areas can be simultaneously helpful for protection of forests, wetlands, biodiversity, water resources, fish stock, and so forth. This in turn is critical to avoiding economic hardships, social tension and conflicts. Addressing the issue of climate change should help in the protection of terrestrial and marine areas. • Adequate drinking water and sanitation infrastructure can best be built through public initiatives, both at national and local levels, complemented by various community and non-governmental initiatives. Infrastructure should be environmentally friendly to avoid negative externalities that have emerged as access to drinking water and sanitation is expanded.
eBook - PDF- Stephen Scoffham(Author)
- 2016(Publication Date)
- Routledge(Publisher)
While time will tell the effectiveness of the Sustainable Development Goals, the proactive language sets out a clear agenda for the role of education and institutions in actively promoting sustainable development. Sustainable development is commonly thought of as having three mutually support- ing dimensions – economic, social and environmental. These work together and link to the idea of quality of life for all, recognising that we live in an interconnected world. They also relate to some of the ‘big’ questions that geography seeks to answer, namely: n Where is this place? What is it like and why? n Why and how is it changing? What will it be like in the future? What kinds of futures do we want? n What do people do here? How are their actions influenced by, and how do they impact on, environments at different scales? n How is this place connected to other places? How am I connected to other people and places? n Who gets what, where, when and how? Who decides? n What’s it got to do with me? Why should I care? Sustainability education is relevant across the entire curriculum and is best approached through holistic teaching and learning. It has a particular association with geography and requires careful underpinning with geographical thinking and knowledge. Issues concern- ing sustainability and the environment have a values-led and affective base, often articulated as a need to ‘care for the world’, which can sometimes eclipse other necessary components of knowledge and critical thinking. While values and emotions are intrinsic and inescapable facets of sustainability, being properly equipped to respond to these issues also demands some degree of cognitive understanding about how and why human, biological and physical worlds interact with and affect each other.
eBook - PDFSustainable Development
Constraints and Opportunities
- Mostafa Kamal Tolba(Author)
- 2013(Publication Date)
- Butterworth-Heinemann(Publisher)
Preserving genetic resources, as with everything I have spoken about today, comes down to good environmental management. At the local level it means regulating firewood collection and grazing in a buffer zone around a protected area; at the national level it requires setting up and policing a network of protected areas; at the international level it is for organizations like UNEP and FAO to do all in their power to make sure the developing nations, which possess 65% of all species, get a fair return in the international seed market. Call for action In conclusion, I bring you a message of warning, a message of hope and a call for action. The warning is that environmental deterioration, through its impact on the economy, is also undermining peace and security. The Brandt Report put it clearly: 'Few threats to global peace and survival of the human community are greater than Sustainable development in a developing economy 107 those posed by the prospects of a cumulative and irreversible degradation of the biosphere on which all human life depends'. My message of hope is that a number of governments are making preparations for a quantum leap to stop and reverse environmental deterioration. Several African countries are leading the way by drawing up national conservation strategies, passing regulations requiring all new development projects to be screened for environmental soundness, starting tree-planting campaigns and so on. Collectively, African nations have endorsed environmentally sound development in the Organi-zation of African Unity's Plan of Action agreed here in Lagos. And now my call for action. For thousands of years, African villagers and townspeople have used local resources prudently so that they have been handed over intact from one generation to the next, often unconsciously as these people observed religious, cultural and other practices finely honed to their environment.
- Julius Ibukun Agboola(Author)
- 2011(Publication Date)
- IntechOpen(Publisher)
Part 1 Sustainable Development in a Changing Environment 1 Relevant Issues and Current Dimensions in Global Environmental Change Julius I. Agboola 1,2 1 United Nations University, Institute of Advanced Studies, Operating Unit in Ishikawa/Kanazawa, 2-1-1 Hirosaka, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, 2 Department of Fisheries, Faculty of Science/ Centre for Environment and Science Education (CESE), Lagos State University, Ojo, Lagos, 1 Japan 2 Nigeria 1. Introduction Global environmental change (GEC) includes both systemic changes that operate globally through the major systems of the geosphere-biosphere, and cumulative changes that represent the global accumulation of localized changes. The importance and awareness of GEC has greatly increased since the second UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in 1992. During the last two decades, GEC research programs around the world have advanced our understanding of the Earth's ever-changing physical, chemical, and biological systems and the growing human influences on these systems. On the basis of current knowledge attention is now focused on the critical unanswered scientific questions that must be resolved to fully understand and usefully predict future’s GEC. It is hoped that measurable significant progress would be made in the forthcoming Earth Summit 2012, formerly known as United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD) or Rio+20 scheduled for Rio de Janeiro in June 2012. Generally, the earth’s climate system varies naturally across a range of temporal scales, including seasonal cycles, inter-annual patterns such as the El Niño/La Niña-Southern Oscillation- ENSO, inter-decadal cycles such as the North Atlantic and Pacific Decadal oscillations, and multimillenial-scale changes such as glacial to inter-glacial transitions (Harley et al., 2006). This natural variability is reflected in the evolutionary adaptations of species and large-scale patterns of biogeography.
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