SDG 15: Life on Land - Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, leaders from 193 different countries agreed on 17 global goals they felt the world needed to achieve by 2030. Goal 15 Life on Land, aims to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems by sustainably managing forests, combating desertification and halting and reversing land degradation and biodiversity loss.

What is the importance of SDG 15?

Forests encompass approximately 30.7% of the surface of our planet. Beyond being vital for ensuring food security, offering shelter, and preserving the unique habitats of indigenous communities, they play a pivotal role in the battle against climate change and the safeguarding of biodiversity. Embracing Sustainable Development Goal 15, which centres on preserving life on land, not only allows us to protect these invaluable forested landscapes but also fortifies our ability to manage natural resources efficiently and enhance land productivity.  

This SDG is highly important as it covers 10 targets, often, when we think of Life on Land we think of biodiversity and deforestation. Conservation of forests and halting deforestation to protect our biodiversity is an essential part of this sustainable development goal but there are also other highly important issues it covers including, the preservation of our mountain ecosystems, eliminating poaching and trafficking of protected species, promoting access to genetic resources and fair sharing of benefits, preventing invasive species on land and water ecosystems, integrating ecosystems and biodiversity in governmental planning among others.

This SDG covers a broad range of topics and fully integrating this is essential for successful sustainable development.

So, what are the challenges?

With the world’s population set to grow towards 9 billion people, an increasing demand for food and other commodities places more pressure on land while also affecting people’s livelihoods and health.

On a global scale, we deforest around ten million hectares of forest every year. That’s the equivalent of an area the size of Portugal.

Continuing on from this it is clear from research that the majority of forest loss comes from tropical deforestation. This is concerning considering approximately 80% of all land species live in rainforests.

Image Credit: OurWorldinData.org Data Source: Philp Curtis et al. (2018)

For example, FAO (Forest Resources Assessment) found that between the years 1990 and 2015, global forest cover decreased by 3.1%, and total forest areas are in decline worldwide. Additionally, 90% of the world’s land is cleared for agricultural expansion. In the above graphic, it is shown that on a global level, the driver of deforestation is mostly due to land clearance for agriculture.

Another challenge in achieving SDG 15 is the illicit wildlife trade. The international wildlife trade is recognised as a serious organised crime and is a major threat to biodiversity. Trafficking wildlife can diminish species populations and cause local and global extinctions. It can also threaten the way an ecosystem functions. Although in recent years global awareness of the wildlife trade has increased including within governments, this trade still poses a significant threat to the integration of this SDG. The complex and flexible nature of the wildlife trade criminal networks continues to be a major challenge to law enforcement, especially in the context of corruption.

It is also important to recognize the recent publication of the update on planetary boundaries. This update poses an increased challenge to the implementation of SDG 15. The planetary concept was introduced in 2009 and its aim is to define the environmental limits within which humanity can safely operate.

In 2023 an analysis was done on these boundaries to assess which ones have been crossed, and it was revealed by scientists that 6 out of the 9 boundaries have been crossed, one of which is “land use change”. This boundary includes deforestation and land use change, which would affect the implementation of SDG 15. Another planetary boundary “biosphere integrity” was also crossed, this planetary boundary includes biodiversity loss and species extinction which would affect the implementation of SDG 15.

In response to this Katherine Richardson leader of the Sustainability Science Centre said:

“We can think of Earth as a human body, and the planetary boundaries as blood pressure. Over 120/80 does not indicate a certain heart attack but it does raise the risk, and therefore, we work to reduce blood pressure.”

This study provides a clear challenge to the implementation of this SDG as boundaries have already been crossed which makes it considerably harder to undo damage that has already been done. Although it is still important to realise that we can still undo this damage, for example in the 1990s the boundary for ozone depletion was exceeded but thanks to global initiatives this boundary is no longer transgressed.

Image and data credit: Azote for Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University. Based on Richardson et al. 2023, Steffen et al. 2015, and Rockstrom et al. 2009

What are the benefits of achieving SDG 15?

In today’s society we are facing unprecedented environmental challenges, achieving SDG 15 stands as being a hope for the future. This goal is about safeguarding the terrestrial ecosystems that sustain life on Earth, and the benefits of achieving it are huge. Firstly, it’s a lifeline for biodiversity, preventing the extinction of countless plant and animal species. SDG 15 is a powerful tool in the fight against climate change, as it promotes the preservation of carbon-absorbing forests and sustainable land use practices. Additionally, it ensures the continuation of essential ecosystem services like clean air, clean water, and pollination for our crops, all are critical for human well-being.

Sustainable land management fosters economic stability, lifts communities out of poverty, and strengthens resilience against natural disasters. Furthermore, it acknowledges the cultural and indigenous heritage tied to the land, fostering respect for diverse traditions. SDG 15 paves the way for a more resilient and sustainable world by encouraging global partnership and sustainable tourism. Achieving this goal is not just an option, it’s absolutely necessary for the well-being of our planet and its inhabitants.

How can we help?

It is important to recognise that when talking about achieving this SDG governments and policymakers play a pivotal role in introducing policies and legislation that reflect the targets of this goal.

1. Vote and Advocate for Policy Change – Advocate for stronger environmental policies at local, national, and international levels. Support and vote for policymakers that promote responsible land management and conservation!
2. Be a responsible consumer – Choose products with minimal packaging and those made from more sustainable materials. Support sustainable forestry by using products that are certified by organisations like Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)
3. Reduce waste – Minimise waste use by reducing single-use plastic! Adopt circular economy principles to your life.
4. Be a sustainable tourist – Be a responsible tourist by respecting local cultures and ecosystems during your travels.
5. Support local biodiversity – Plant native trees and shrubs in your garden or volunteer with a local conservation organisation!

Read our article about the next Sustainable Development Goal #16 here!

Editor recommendation: The Tragedy of Deforestation by BBC Earth, click here to watch.

Lead the Way in Protecting Life on Land

Want to make a difference in conserving forests, combating biodiversity loss, and promoting sustainable land management? The ESG Leader Programme provides you with the tools to embed sustainability into your business strategy and contribute to achieving SDG 15.

Join the next cohort and lead the change toward sustainability!

Thank you for reading! 

The FSG Team 💚