Goal 15: Life on land

Goal 15 aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Terrestrial ecosystems including forests and wetlands provide goods such as timber, raw materials for construction, and energy and food for all. Besides, a series of ecosystem services including maintenance of soil quality, provision of habitat for biodiversity, maintenance of water quality, as well as regulation of water flow and erosion control are provided by land ecosystems. Goal 15 highlights how these systems contribute to reducing risks of natural disasters such as floods and landslides, maintain productivity of agricultural systems while also regulating climate. It also highlights that concerted action is needed to protect, restore and promote terrestrial ecosystems. There are 12 targets in Goal 15 to measure the changing health and status of terrestrial ecosystems. At state level 11 indicators have been identified in State Indicator Framework to monitor the progress of this goal.

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