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SDG 15: Life On Land from Vajirao & Reddy Institute

By : Author Desk Updated : 2024-10-11 17:10:45

SDG 15: LIFE ON LAND

Overview of Goal 15: Goal 15 aims to protect, restore, and sustainably manage terrestrial ecosystems, combat desertification, halt land degradation, and stop biodiversity loss. It emphasizes the importance of ecosystems for sustaining human life, contributing significantly to the global economy, and supporting cultural and spiritual values. GOALS & TARGETS
  • 15.1: Ensure conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems by 2020.
  • 15.2: Promote sustainable forest management and halt deforestation by 2020.
  • 15.3: Combat desertification and achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.
  • 15.4: Conserve mountain ecosystems and enhance their benefits by 2030.
  • 15.5: Urgently reduce habitat degradation and halt biodiversity loss by 2020.
  • 15.6: Promote fair sharing of benefits from genetic resources.
  • 15.7: End poaching and trafficking of protected species.
  • 15.8: Prevent the introduction of invasive species and reduce their impact by 2020.
  • 15.9: Integrate ecosystem values into national planning and development.
  • 15.A: Mobilize financial resources for biodiversity conservation.
  • 15.B: Support sustainable forest management and incentivize developing countries.
  • 15.C: Enhance global support to combat poaching and promote sustainable livelihoods.
IMPORTANCE OF ECOSYSTEM
  • Economic Contribution: Terrestrial ecosystems account for over half of global GDP.
  • Biodiversity: Forests cover 31% of the Earth's surface and host over 80% of terrestrial species.
  • Current Crisis: The world faces a triple crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, with 100 million hectares of land degraded annually from 2015 to 2019, impacting 1.3 billion people.
CHALLENGES
  • Deforestation: Agricultural expansion drives 90% of deforestation, particularly from oil palm harvesting (7% of global deforestation from 2000-2018).
  • Land Degradation: One-fifth of Earth's land is degraded, driving species extinction and exacerbating climate change.
  • Biodiversity Loss: Current rates of biodiversity decline are unprecedented, with 1 million species threatened with extinction.
HEALTH IMPLICATIONS:
  • Zoonotic Diseases: Increased demand for animal protein and unsustainable farming practices contribute to the rise of zoonotic diseases (e.g., COVID-19).
  • Economic Impact: Neglected zoonotic diseases cause around 2 million deaths annually and have resulted in over $100 billion in economic losses in the past two decades.
ACTIONS FOR SUSTAINABILITY
  • Recycling: Reduce waste and promote recycling practices.
  • Sustainable Diets: Adopt locally sourced, sustainable diets.
  • Responsible Tourism: Engage in ethically run ecotourism to avoid wildlife disturbance.
  • Community Involvement: Involve local communities in the development and management of protected areas.
SDG 15: LIFE ON LAND IN INDIA Sustainable Development Goal 15 aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. KEY FOCUS AREAS
  • Sustainable Management of Forests: Ensuring forests are managed in a way that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, and ecological processes.
  • Combating Desertification: Addressing the degradation of land in arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid areas.
  • Halting and Reversing Land Degradation: Restoring degraded land to its natural state or enhancing its productivity.
  • Integrating Ecosystems and Biodiversity: Incorporating ecosystem services and biodiversity considerations into national and local planning.
  • Equitable Sharing of Benefits: Ensuring that benefits derived from genetic resources are shared fairly and equitably.
  • Preventing Poaching and Trafficking: Protecting endangered species from illegal activities that threaten their survival. 
SDG INDIA INDEX To measure India’s performance towards Goal 15, seven national-level indicators have been identified. These indicators reflect progress towards four of the twelve targets outlined for 2030, ensuring data availability and comparability across States and Union Territories (UTs). SDG 15 INDEX SCORE
  • State Scores: The index score ranges from 54 to 95.
  • UT Scores: The scores range from 42 to 99.
  • Top Performers:
    • States: Jharkhand and Tripura are recognized as top performers.
    • UTs: Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu lead among UTs.
  • Front Runners: A total of 27 States and 5 UTs scored between 65 and less than 100.
  • Aspirants: Only one UT scored less than 50, indicating areas for improvement.
KEY INDICATORS
  1. Forest and Tree Cover
  • National Target: India aims for 33% of its geographical area to be under forest and tree cover, as per the National Afforestation and Eco-Development Board.
  • Current Status:
    • Total Forest Cover: As of the Forest Survey of India 2021, 21.71% of India’s geographical area is under forest cover, and 2.91% under tree cover, totaling around 25%.
    • States Achieving Targets: 14 States and 5 UTs have met the national target.
    • Highest Coverage:
      • Mizoram: 84.53% forest cover.
      • Lakshadweep: 90.33% of its area under forest.?
  • Lowest Coverage:
    • Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan: Each with less than 5% forest cover.
  • Tree Cover Leaders:
    • Chandigarh: 13.16% tree cover among UTs.
    • Delhi: 9.91% tree cover.
    • Kerala: 7.26% tree cover among States.
    • Sikkim: Lowest tree cover at 0.55%.
  1. Area Covered Under Afforestation Schemes
  • Total Afforestation Area: Approximately 1,326,963 hectares are covered under various afforestation schemes, accounting for 0.4% of India’s total geographical area.
  • Top States for Afforestation:
    • Uttarakhand: 4.16% of its area.
    • Telangana: 2.63%.
  • Top UT for Afforestation:
    • Puducherry: 2.75% coverage.
  1. Carbon Stock in Forest Cover
  • Definition: Carbon stock measures the amount of carbon captured and stored in forest ecosystems, helping mitigate greenhouse gases.
  • Change in Carbon Stock (2021):
    • Overall Increase: Approximately 1.11% increase in carbon stock across forested areas.
    • Highest Increase:
        • Telangana: 6.68% increase in carbon stock.
      • West Bengal: 5.12% increase.
    • Decrease in Carbon Stock: Observed in 10 States and 5 UTs.
      • Lakshadweep: Most significant decrease at –11.02%.
  1. Land Degradation
  • Current Status (2015-2016): About 27.77% of total land area was reported as degraded by the National Remote Sensing Centre.
  • State Comparisons:
    • Lowest Degradation:
      • Punjab: 3.15%
      • West Bengal: 5.56%
    • Highest Degradation:
      • Rajasthan: 52.69% of land degraded.
    • Best Performing UT:
      • Chandigarh: Only 0.50% of its land is degraded.
  1. Desertification
  • Increase in Desertification (2018-2019): Approximately 1.5% increase in land area affected by desertification.
  • States with Decrease:
    • Rajasthan: –1.34% reduction in desertified area.
    • Jharkhand: –0.30%
    • Gujarat: –0.13%
  • Highest Increase:
    • Mizoram: 47.14% increase in desertification.
    • UT with Highest Increase: Jammu and Kashmir at 6.08%.
  1. Wildlife Crime Cases
  • Reported Cases: 16 wildlife crime cases per million hectares of protected area as of 2023.
  • States with Most Cases:
    • Goa: 355 cases
    • Punjab: 131 cases
    • Uttarakhand: 104 cases
    • West Bengal: 99 cases
INITIATIVES TAKEN Forest Conservation and Restoration:
  • National Afforestation Programme: This program aims to increase forest cover in the country through afforestation and reforestation efforts.
  • Project Tiger and Project Elephant: These specific projects are dedicated to the conservation of tigers and elephants, respectively.
Biodiversity Conservation:
  • National Biodiversity Action Plan: This plan outlines strategies for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use.
  • Establishment of national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and biosphere reserves: These protected areas help safeguard biodiversity and ecosystems.
Land Degradation and Desertification:
  • National Action Plan on Climate Change: This plan includes measures to address land degradation and desertification, such as afforestation and sustainable land management
  • National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture: This mission promotes sustainable agriculture practices that help conserve soil and prevent land degradation.
Sustainable Land Management:
  • National Forest Policy: This policy provides guidelines for sustainable forest management and conservation.
  • National Agriculture Policy: This policy promotes sustainable agriculture practices, including soil conservation and crop diversification.
  • Promotion of agroforestry and organic farming: These practices help conserve land and reduce soil degradation.
Community Involvement:
  • Community-based conservation programs: These programs involve local communities in biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management.
  • Forest Rights Act: This act recognizes the rights of forest-dwelling communities and promotes their involvement in forest conservation.
International Cooperation:
  • Participation in international agreements: India is a signatory to several international agreements related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification.
  • Collaboration with other countries: India collaborates with other countries on initiatives related to biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management.
Financial Resources:
  • Allocation of funds: The Indian government has allocated significant funds for biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management.
  • Private sector involvement: The government has encouraged private sector participation in conservation and sustainable development initiatives.
Awareness and Education:
  • Public awareness campaigns: The government has conducted public awareness campaigns to raise awareness about biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management.
  • Education programs: Education programs are being implemented to promote environmental awareness and sustainable practices among students.
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