SDG 15 goals off track: 'Life on land' under threat

The Sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all". The SDGs were set up in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly and are intended to be achieved by 2030. SDG 15 focusses on ‘life on land’. It aims 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. The progress on this global goal is currently off track!
The overall progress on SDG-15 in at least 12 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa has reversed and is trending in the wrong direction, according to the Sustainable Development Report, 2022 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The report found that 23 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have also shown “stagnant progress” under the goal. Infact, all regions of the world face major and significant challenges in achieving the goal, the report found.
Forest cover decline
The world’s forest area continues to decline. The proportion of forests fell from 31.9 percent of total land area in 2000 to 31.2 per cent in 2020, representing a net loss of almost 100 million hectares. This has been primarily due to the conversion of forests into agricultural land, said the UN report.
A closer look at the last two decades further revealed that forest cover shrunk faster during 2010-2020 than 2000-2010 in Sub-Saharan Africa. This shrinking is called reverse progress in sustainable forest management.
Agriculture expansion
Yuxi Zhang, UNDESA statistics division, stated that agricultural expansion drove almost 90% of global deforestation. This includes crop-land expansion of 49.6% and livestock grazing (38.5%).
This goes against the target 15.1, under which the world was supposed to ensure forest conservation, restoration and sustainable use by 2020.
Failure to prevent extinction of species
Under SDG target 15.5, the world was supposed to halt, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species by 2020. However, the risk of species extinction continued to rise. “The risk is highest in Asia and small-island developing states. Around 40,000 species are documented to be at risk of extinction over the coming decades”, said Zhang. The trends in the red list index, a key indicator under SDG-15, clearly indicate that the world has failed to address the “extinction of species”
Down to Earth is Science and Environment fortnightly published by the Society for Environmental Communication, New Delhi. We publish news and analysis on issues that deal with sustainable development, which we scan through the eyes of science and environment.

[@pulkitsharma6648]

DTE best for ENV in UPSC

[@swayamcurrentaffairs9601]

All people should be aware the important of environment 👍👍🌳🌲🌻

[@suryansh500]

All thnks to the good n aware citizens

[@JDeka27]

Absolutely 👍👍

[@pranavnair2616]

This needs to be told

[@ladyselenafelicitywhite1596]

We all need to write to our political representatives and urge that those goals are achieved.

[@Roonlovesfish3874]

Although interconnected, there is a reason why this SDG and life on water are way below in the list. We cannot make much progress unless the earlier ones like poverty, reduced inequalities, and economic growth are meted out

[@ladyselenafelicitywhite1596]

People need to:
Become vegan.
Buy and donate as much as possible from charity shops.
Switch to a renewal energy provider.
Walk, cycle, or use public transport instead of using a car.
Contribute to planting trees and protecting rainforests.

[@Dargonixz]

So underrated 😢

[@anmolkoul1280]

♥️

[@risarahayu8442]

Hi, I want to ask about abandoned animals population. Is that in 15th SDG?

[@juliusmccrimmon3942]

ᵖʳᵒᵐᵒˢᵐ 👏

[@satheesh7086]

Reason is Human expansion and destroy the forest .not thinking about the animals and birds....