GOAL 15: Life on Land
The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are crucial for social and economic development as well as for human survival. The loss of forest cover threatens human well-being, with the rural poor being particularly affected. Biodiversity is the basis for ecological development. Goal 15 calls for the conservation, restoration, and sustainable use of ecosystems. Deforestation should be stopped, and degraded forests restored. Reforestation is to be significantly increased worldwide. Likewise, desertification is to be combated by 2030 and areas affected by desertification, drought and floods are to be rehabilitated. To protect biodiversity, Goal 15 calls for urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected plant and animal species.
What is to be achieved?
- By 2020, in line with commitments under international agreements, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands.
- By 2020, promote sustainable management of all forest types, end deforestation, restore degraded forests and significantly increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
- By 2030, combat desertification, rehabilitate degraded lands and soils, including those affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and aim for a world where land degradation is neutralised.
- By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, to strengthen their capacity to deliver essential benefits for sustainable development.
- Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt biodiversity loss and protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species by 2020.
- Promote the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilisation of genetic resources and appropriate access to them, as agreed at international level.
- Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected plant and animal species and address the problem of supply of and demand for illegal wildlife products.
- By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction of invasive alien species, significantly reduce their impact on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and control or eliminate priority species.
- By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and overall accounting systems.
How is the goal to be achieved?
- Raise and significantly increase financial resources from all sources for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Raise substantial resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide appropriate incentives to developing countries to increase the use of this form of management, namely for the purpose of forest conservation and reforestation.
- Increase global support for measures to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by strengthening the capacity of local communities to take advantage of sustainable livelihood opportunities.
