UNSDG 15: Protecting Life on Land Faces Persistent Threats

Strategic Insights -

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15, aimed at conserving life on land, is falling short of its objectives. The world's forested area continues to shrink, with an average of 10 million hectares destroyed yearly, primarily due to agricultural expansion. This decline is exacerbated by unsustainable agricultural practices, including logging and farming, as well as unsustainable harvesting of wild species. The consequences are alarming, with species at risk of extinction increasing at an unprecedented rate.

Key Takeaways:

  • The world's forested area is shrinking, with an average of 10 million hectares destroyed yearly, primarily due to agricultural expansion.
  • Agricultural expansion is driving almost 90% of global deforestation, with 49.6% coming from expansion for cropland and 38.5% for livestock grazing.
  • Species extinction risk is unprecedented in human history, with the Red List Index revealing a 9.2% deterioration between 2000 and 2022.
  • Central and Southern Asia, Eastern and South-Eastern Asia, and small island developing States suffer from more severe risk and faster deterioration than the global average.
  • Ghana's biodiversity is confronted with multiple threats, including land-use conversions, habitat degradation, and unsustainable practices.
  • Ghana has already lost an estimated 65% of its forest cover over the past 30 years, with an average tree cover loss of 12,350 hectares in 2022.

Statistics:

  • 10 million hectares of forest destroyed yearly (Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022)
  • 49.6% of global deforestation due to expansion for cropland (Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022)
  • 38.5% of global deforestation due to livestock grazing (Sustainable Development Goals Report, 2022)
  • 9.2% deterioration in species extinction risk between 2000 and 2022 (Red List Index, 2022)
  • 65% of Ghana's forest cover lost over the past 30 years (Mighty Earth, 2022)
  • Average tree cover loss of 12,350 hectares in Ghana (2022, Mighty Earth)

Sources:

  • Sustainable Development Goals Report (2022)
  • United Nations (2023)
  • United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (2023)
  • Mighty Earth (2022)