Global Scans · Life on Land · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss,

• [New] Grasslands and extensive grazing play an irreplaceable role in global biodiversity and throughout the year numerous initiatives will raise global awareness of their importance for food production, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and the health of ecosystems. BioNet
• [New] In 2026, African diamond mining is projected to affect over 1.2 million hectares of land and forest ecosystems. Farmonaut
• [New] An additional area of land twice the size of Wales will be needed by 2050 to meet the UK's targets for net zero and biodiversity alone. farminguk
• [New] Tropical forests, which harbor more than half of all terrestrial species, continue to be lost at approximately 10 million hectares per year, despite pledges at COP26 to end deforestation by 2030. Gray Group International
• [New] Fashion and textiles: Cotton production (which uses 2.5% of global arable land and 6% of global pesticide use), leather supply chains linked to cattle ranching and deforestation, and synthetic fibers contributing to microplastic pollution all create biodiversity risks. Gray Group International
• [New] The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which predates the GBF, aligns closely with its targets and adds EU-specific requirements including legally binding nature restoration targets (the Nature Restoration Law adopted in 2024). Gray Group International
• [New] Regulatory requirements for biodiversity impact assessments, net gain requirements (the UK requires 10% biodiversity net gain on all new developments), and environmental permitting delays create project timeline and cost risks. Gray Group International
• [New] A palm oil supply chain in Borneo faces different biodiversity risks than one in West Africa, even though both involve deforestation pressure. Gray Group International
• [New] The Government of Zambia has announced an ambitious plan to increase its electricity generation capacity to approximately 10,000 megawatts by 2030, aiming to address persistent power shortages and support long-term economic growth. Industrial Info Resources
• [New] Regulatory shifts represent a dynamic, growing risk as governments globally impose stricter standards on environmental impact, emissions, extractive practices, and land use. Farmonaut
• [New] Conservation groups have warned that a planned green hydrogen project in southern Namibia could threaten biodiversity in a protected coastal park. Maghrebi.org
• [New] Severe droughts affecting individual major agricultural regions can cause substantial crop yield losses and ecosystem productivity declines, and that spatially compounding droughts across breadbasket regions have the potential to reduce global harvests, with impacts on agriculture and food systems. Nature
• [New] Successful investing in lithium stocks in 2025-2026 means addressing distinct risks and applying exceptional due diligence - especially given the exposure to land, water, and ESG complexities. Farmonaut
• [New] Global lithium demand is projected to rise by 25% annually through 2026, impacting sustainable land and water management. Farmonaut
• [New] In the developing world, nanotechnology is anticipated to play a pivotal role due to its minimal labour, land, and maintenance requirements. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Forest restoration: The Bonn Challenge, a global effort to restore 350 million hectares of degraded and deforested land by 2030, has commitments covering 210 million hectares. Gray Group International
• [New] The U.S. paved over, fragmented, or converted 11 million acres of agricultural land to uses that jeopardize agriculture and is projected to lose at least 18.4 million acres more by 2040. American Farmland Trust
• [New] The fragile balance of the Arctic ecosystem is being disrupted, with far-reaching consequences that could impact the entire planet. GSAP News
• About 7% of England's land - an area roughly two-and-a-half times the size of Cornwall - will need to be given over to nature, forests and renewable energy, to meet the UK's environmental targets, new data shows. The Guardian
• By 2026, spodumene mining could affect over 15,000 hectares of agricultural and forest land globally. Farmonaut
• Six critical ecosystem regions - including the Amazon Rainforest - could collapse by mid-century, threatening the security of the UK and other countries. Deutsche Welle
• Coordinated national efforts will be essential to mitigate the long-term impacts on Turkey's biodiversity and ecosystems. Blog |
• As global agriculture transitions toward climate-resilient production systems, regenerative agriculture is expected to play a critical role in restoring degraded land, enhancing food security, and supporting sustainable rural economies. openpr

Last updated: 29 March 2026