Sustainable Development Goal 15

PROTECT, RESTORE AND PROMOTE SUSTAINABLE USE OF TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS, MANAGE FORESTS SUSTAINABLY, COMBAT DESERTIFICATION, END AND REVERSE LAND DEGRADATION AND HALT BIODIVERSITY LOSS

Healthy ecosystems are the foundation of our lives. This is not just about food supply, which is not possible without bees, for example. It is also about the air we breathe, because without trees and plants CO2 is not converted into oxygen. It is also about the coasts, which without mangrove forests are not protected from floods and inundation. The mechanisms in ecosystems are interdependent, and if one component is out of balance, it often affects everyone. The rapid destruction of biodiversity is a major problem for this balance. More than half of ecosystems are in worse condition today than they were 50 years ago or are not being used sustainably.
Every year, between 11,000 and 58,000 animal species become extinct worldwide, partly because their habitats disappear or due to poaching, for example. Half of the rainforest, for example, has already been completely destroyed. Not only animals suffer from this, indigenous peoples are also deprived of their livelihood. The consequences of the destruction of terrestrial ecosystems are also being felt around the world: global agriculture is in danger: one third of fertile land has been lost to erosion, pollution and desertification in the last 40 years. In contrast, the world will need to produce an estimated 50 percent more food for a growing population by 2025.

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What are the sub-goals?

By 2020, in accordance with obligations under international agreements, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, particularly forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands.
By 2020, promote sustainable management of all forest species, end deforestation, restore degraded forests, and significantly increase afforestation and reforestation worldwide.
By 2030, combat desertification, rehabilitate degraded lands and soils, including lands affected by desertification, drought, and floods, and strive for a world in which land degradation is neutralized.
By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, to strengthen their capacity to provide 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 endangered species by 2020.
Promote the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and appropriate access to them, as agreed at the 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, implement 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?

SDG 15 is to be implemented, among other things, through species conservation and anti-poaching measures. Local communities should be empowered for sustainable livelihoods, including combating a trade in protected species.
Financial resources from all sources should be raised and significantly increased to be able to finance conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems. Similarly, substantial funds from all sources and at all levels are to be expended to finance sustainable forest management. Developing countries should be given appropriate incentives for forest conservation and reforestation.

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More info on SDG 15 | Lecture Series of the Virtual Academy Sustainability