Forests cover 30.7 per cent of the Earth’s surface and, in addition to providing food security and shelter, they are key to combating climate change, protecting biodiversity and the homes of the indigenous population. By protecting forests, we will also be able to strengthen natural resource management and increase land productivity.
At the current time, thirteen million hectares of forests are being lost every year while the persistent degradation of drylands has led to the desertification of 3.6 billion hectares.
Even though up to 15% of land is currently under protection, biodiversity is still at risk. Deforestation and desertification – caused by human activities and climate change – pose major challenges to sustainable development and have affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people in the fight against poverty.
MORE GOALS
01 — NO POVERTYSustainable Development Goal
02 — ZERO HUNGERSustainable Development Goal
03 — GOOD HEALTH AND WELL-BEINGSustainable Development Goal
04 — QUALITY EDUCATIONSustainable Development Goal
05 — GENDER EQUALITYSustainable Development Goal
06 — CLEAN WATER AND SANITATIONSustainable Development Goal
07 — AFFORDABLE AND CLEAN ENERGYSustainable Development Goal
08 — DECENT WORK AND ECONOMIC GROWTHSustainable Development Goal
09 — INDUSTRY, INNOVATION AND INFRASTRUCTURESustainable Development Goal
10 — REDUCED INEQUALITIESSustainable Development Goal
11 — SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIESSustainable Development Goal
12 — RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTIONSustainable Development Goal
13 — CLIMATE ACTIONSustainable Development Goal
14 — LIFE BELOW WATERSustainable Development Goal
16 — PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONSSustainable Development Goal
17 — PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALSSustainable Development Goal