1 million

LIFE ON LAND: plant

and
WHY IT MATTERS animal
What’s the goal here?
To sustainably manage
forests, combat deserti-
their livelihood. Almost
75 per cent of the world’s
poor are affected directly
by land degradation.
species
are
fication, halt and reverse
land degradation, and
halt biodiversity loss.
Forests are home to more
than 80 per cent of all
terrestrial species of ani-
at risk
Why? mals, plants and insects. of
However, biodiversity is
Forests cover nearly 31
per cent of our planet’s
land area. From the air
declining faster than at
any other time in human
extinction
history. An estimated 20
we breathe, to the water
per cent of the Earth’s
we drink, to the food we
land area was degraded
eat–forests sustain us.
between 2000 and 2015.
Around 1.6 billion peo-
Biodiversity and the
ple depend on forests for
ecosystem services it
underpins can also be the
basis for climate change
adaptation and disaster
risk reduction strategies
as they can deliver bene-
fits that will increase the
resilience of people to the
impacts of climate change.
Forests and nature are
also important for recre-
ation and mental
well-being. In many
cultures, natural land-
scapes are closely linked
to spiritual values, reli-
gious beliefs and tra-
ditional teachings.
What would it cost to
correct the problem?
The UN Forum on Forests
Secretariat estimates that
achieving sustainable
forest management on a
global scale would cost
US$70-$160 billion per
year. The Convention on
Biological Diversity esti-
mates that US$150-$440
billion per year is required
to halt the loss of biodi-
versity at a global level by
the middle of this century.
What would it cost if we
don’t correct the problem?
Biodiversity delivers mul-
tiple services from local
to global levels, while
responses to biodiversity
loss range from emotional
to utilitarian. For instance, our presence–but we
insects and other can make choices that
pollen-carriers are esti- either affirm diver-
mated to be worth more sity or devalue it.
than US$200 billion per
Some things we can do
year to the global food
to help include recycling,
economy. Three-quarters
eating a locally-based
of the top-ranking global
diet that is sustainably
prescription drugs con-
sourced, consuming
tain components derived
only what we need, and
from plant extracts, which
limiting energy usage
would be threatened.
through efficient heating
Natural disasters caused
and cooling systems. We
by ecosystems disrupted
must also be respectful
by human impact and
toward wildlife and only
climate change already
take part in ecotourism
cost the world more than
opportunities that are
US$300 billion per year.
responsibly and ethically
Deforestation and for-
run in order to prevent
est degradation results
in loss of habitat for all
wildlife disturbance. Well-
managed protected areas
species, a decrease in
support healthy ecosys-
freshwater quality, an
tems, which in turn keep
increase in soil erosion,
people healthy. It is there-
land degradation and
fore critical to secure the
higher emissions of car-
involvement of the local
bon into the atmosphere.
communities in the devel-
In short, not taking action
opment and management
on forests impacts both
of these protected areas.
the health of the planet
and our communities. To find out more
about Goal #15 and
What can we do? the other Sustainable
Inevitably, we change Development Goals, visit:
the ecosystems we
are a part of through
http://www.un.org/
sustainabledevelopment