SDG 15 Introduction

SDG 15: Life on Land SDG 15 Introduction
  • Discover resources to help you explore issues around life on land
  • Figure out which part of land and forest management, desertification or biodiversity problems to solve in your community

WHAT IS SDG 15 ALL ABOUT?

Every community is impacted by SDG 15 issues. Here are some big ones you can relate to.

MAIN ISSUES

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Images courtesy of https://www.unep.org/.

WHERE DO WE START?

Are you thinking,
adopting dogs
is the best solution?

Did you know there
are many more powerful
things you could work on?

START: UN SDG 15 TARGETS

Click on each tab on the left to read each 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.

This target might be too global to address, but might be possible on a local scale.

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.

This is a global issue that may be difficult to address, but raising awareness is a possible goal.

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.

Working on this issue on a local scale is a good 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.

This could be addressed on a local scale.

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.

This might be too difficult to address in a global way but can be approached on a local level.

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.

This target might be hard to address because it is based on international agreements.

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.

This target would be difficult and potentially dangerous to try to address.

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.

This target is possible to address on a local level.

15.9 By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

This target would involve government agencies, so may not be easy to address.

15.A Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems.

It would be hard to address this 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.

This target would be difficult to address.

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.

The target to increase local community capacity could be a good target.

As a summary, these targets could be good ones to start brainstorming for project ideas. Click on the arrows to view each target.

15.1 Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems.

15.2 Sustainable management
of all types of forests.

15.3 Combat desertification,
restore degraded land and soil.

15.4 Ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity.

15.5 Reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.

15.8 Prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems.

15.C Increase the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities.

BRAINSTORMING

  1. Look at the SDG 15 targets.
  2. Choose some of interest.
  3. Start generating thoughts and ideas around each topic.
  4. Relate to issues in your own community.
  5. Connect ideas that relate.

Here is a brainstorming example. 

Click the play button to play the short video.

Then

  1. From your map, select one or two particular areas to focus on.
  2. Dig deeper with some research into those particular ideas and topics.

For example, you might choose Biodiversity loss and Forest management to focus on. 

ACTIVITY: BRAINSTORMING

Estimated time: 20 minutes

Make a mind map to generate ideas around the SDG 15 targets



On paper, or digitally with a tool like Miro or Padlet:
  • Write down issues, ideas, organizations, people in boxes or bubbles
  • Connect related boxes
  • Review the ideas and themes.
  • Select one or two main themes/issues that interest you and that you have seen in your community.
  • Research those topics further and start to brainstorm solutions.

NEXT STEPS

Research

Start with the UN SDG 15 website to learn about the targets and follow links

Community

Connect issues you’ve discovered here to issues you know about in your community

People

Follow people who are working in this space on social media to learn more and even contact them

Document

Keep your links and notes organized using bookmarks and Google docs or folder

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