Life on land

Goal 15: Life on land

Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss

Protection of forest and terrestrial ecosystems is on the rise, and forest loss has slowed. That said, other facets of terrestrial conservation continue to demand accelerated action to protect biodiversity, land productivity and genetic resources and to curtail the loss of species.

This indicator assesses the predicted maximum wind speed (mph) on a 50-year return period. Storms can impact companies and value chains through a variety of ways, including building and property damage, flooding or power outages, which may lead to temporary or permanent company closures and loss of...

This indicator assesses the number of occurrences of herbicide resistant weeds. Herbicide resistance is the ability of a weed to survive an herbicide application that had been used to contain that population. As unwanted plants compete with crops, issues of crop loss and contamination arise. To...

This indicator assesses the potential threat of rainfall- and earthquake-triggered landslides. Landslides impose significant risks to human lives and economic activities. Landslides have become more prevalent because of anthropogenic disturbances, such as land-cover changes, land degradation and...

African development corridors database 2022

The large-scale expansion of built infrastructure is profoundly reshaping the geographies of Africa, generating lock-in patterns of development for future generations. Understanding the impact of these massive investments can allow development opportunities to be maximised and therefore be critical...

This indicator measures forest canopy loss. Land- and sea-use change is the major human influence on habitats. Habitat loss is one of the biggest threats to biodiversity and is the number one reason species go extinct. Around half of the world's original forests have disappeared, and they are still...

Côte d'Ivoire and Ghana are the main largest producers of cocoa in the world. However, the cultivation of this crop has led to the loss of vast tracts of forest areas in both countries. Efficient and accurate methods for remotely identifying cocoa farms are essential for the implementation of...

This indicator measures the availability of natural and cultural resources. Some industries, such as tourism, real estate and education, can depend highly on the presence of touristic valuable land or seascapes or specific sites. Tourism is an engine for jobs and investment. The degradation or loss...

Water is a critical natural resource for both natural ecosystems and human subsistence. Some of the most immediate pressures on land that lead to degradation include diversion of surface waters and the removal of groundwater reserves to meet agricultural, industrial and domestic demands. This layer...

The Global 200 is the list of ecoregions identified by WWF, the global conservation organization, as priorities for conservation. According to WWF, an ecoregion is defined as a "relatively large unit of land or water containing a characteristic set of natural communities that share a large majority...

Water scarcity refers to the physical abundance or lack of freshwater resources. It can significantly impact business such as production/supply chain disruption, higher operating costs, and growth constraints. Water scarcity is human-driven, and can be aggravated by natural conditions (e.g., aridity...

Understanding why and where humanitarian disasters are likely to occur is a fundamental step in saving lives and promoting sustainable development. The main focus of humanitarian organizations is people. And people affected by recent natural disasters are considered more vulnerable than the rest of...

This indicator is based on nutrient, pesticide and air pollution. Pollution is an important driver of biodiversity and ecosystem change throughout all biomes. While terrestrial ecosystems have been affected by nitrogen-phosphorous fertilisers, these have had a far more pernicious effect on the...