Why Sustainable Development Goal 15

Life on Land

is so important 

Posted on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook:  31 December 2018

By Ken Hickson

Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. (That’s the United Nations declared Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land.)

More than anything, I will be focussing my attention – and encouraging everyone else – to work on this very important target (15.2):

By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally

Connected to this is Target 15.7, and while it doesn’t mention by name “illegal logging”, that’s a very significant contributor to deforestation and “poaching and trafficking”:

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.

I happen to know that Interpol – and the police forces of 194 members countries – has illegal logging in its sights.

Check this out: https://www.interpol.int/Crime-areas/Environmental-crime/Committee-and-Working-Groups/Forestry-Crime-Working-Group

Read more about Goal 15 – Life on Land – because its connected to practically everything we do on earth.

“Terrestrial ecosystems provide a series of goods, raw materials for construction and energy, food and a series of ecosystem services including the capture of carbon, maintenance of soil quality, provision of habitat for biodiversity, maintenance of water quality, as well as regulation of water flow and erosion control, therefore contributing to reduce the risks of natural disasters such as floods and landslides, regulate climate and maintain the productivity of agricultural systems. Maintaining those ecosystems greatly support climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Data and Statistics / Facts and Figures:

• Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood.
• Forests are home to more than 80 per cent of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects
• 74 per cent of the poor are directly affected by land degradation globally
• Of the 8,300 animal breeds known, 8 per cent are extinct and 22 per cent are at risk of extinction
• Over 80 per cent of the human diet is provided by plants. Only three cereal crops – rice, maize and wheat – provide 60 per cent of energy intake
• As many as 80 per cent of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant-based medicines for basic healthcare

Targets linked to the environment:

• Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements
• Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally
• Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world
• Target 15.4: By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development
• Target 15.5: Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species
• Target 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
• Target 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
• Target 15.8: By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species
• Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts
• Target 15.a: Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems
• Target 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
• Target 15.c: Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities

There are two other Goals which I think are crucial as well. No, let me say that again: all the SDGs are important, but two others I want to especially focus on as we go into 2019.

SDG 12 is all about Sustainable Consumption and Production.

Here are a few reasons why it’s so important:

• Encourage companies, especially large and transnational companies, to adopt sustainable practices and to integrate sustainability information into their reporting cycle
• Promote public procurement practices that are sustainable, in accordance with national policies and priorities
• By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature

• Support developing countries to strengthen their scientific and technological capacity to move towards more sustainable patterns of consumption and production
• Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products

So here’s the connection with Goal 15: We must be much more concerned about responsible sourcing of products and materials we use produce and consume. That includes timber products, wood, pulp and paper. No longer should we blindly accept, buy and consume something unless we know exactly where it’s come from and how it was produced.

Certification and labelling becomes vital in all of this. Consumers must know more and be given more information on the source and origin of the product. We must have sustainable supply chains.

Lastly – yes, I will stop soon – we must always keep in mind the last big Sustainable Development Goal. Number 17. Partnerships for the Goals.

Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development:

Stronger partnerships will contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development by mobilizing resources, sharing knowledge, promoting the creation and transfer of environmentally sound technologies, and building capacity.

There is tremendous scope for making the existing financial system more sustainable by integrating the environment dimension.

Growing cooperation among multilateral organizations, donors and private sector is needed to provide developing countries and beneficiaries with technologies that increase efficiency the use of natural resources, generate low waste, treat the generated pollution and mitigate climate change.

Please make a New Year resolution to focus on at least one of the 17 goals. They are all equally important but if you give your attention to one, you will see that you can achieve something measurable. Awareness and action. https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/best-2018-our-readers-pick

My resolution is to give priority to number 15 – Life on Land – with particular emphasis on:

• Halting deforestation.
• Stopping illegal loggers in their tracks.
• Putting out the fires that are ravaging our forests.
• Promoting urban tree growth for the health of our cities.
• Advancing responsible and sustainable forest management.
• Creating awareness of the need to have sustainable supply chains.
• Introducing “chain of custody” programmes for all products from forests and plantations.

Keep up to date with what we’re doing through our LinkedIn posts, as well as on Twitter and Facebook,  and through our online magazines: The Avenue for Creative Arts and ABC Carbon Express.

Meanwhile, have a Very Happy and Hopeful New Year.

kenhickson@abccarbon.com