Our Scans · (LF.15) 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] Without the certainty of guaranteed food sources, animals that are not adapted to live alongside people are more vulnerable to unpredictable El Nino events that could disrupt cycles that plants and animals rely on, resulting in ripple effects in Singapore's ecosystem and food web. CNA
• [New] Soil biodiversity is declining around the world, threatening agriculture, food security and the ability of ecosystems to function properly. ScienceDaily
• [New] UN awards new World Restoration Flagships in Brazil, Saudi Arabia and the Sahel, recognizing efforts to restore nearly 5 million hectares by 2030, boost food security, create jobs, strengthen climate resilience and combat land degradation. UNEP - UN Environment Programme
• [New] Healthy forests support wildlife, protect water quality, provide recreational opportunities and sustain the outdoor traditions that define much of Western New York. Post Journal
• [New] The latest IPCC report demonstrated that nature-based solutions such as reducing the destruction of forests and other ecosystems, restoring them, and improving the management of working lands, such as farms - are among the top five most effective strategies for mitigating carbon emissions by 2030. IUCN
• [New] Inaction risks national health and security Government intelligence has warned that ecosystem degradation and collapse will put UK food security at risk. Inside track
• [New] Caribou and migratory birds face changes to migration routes and feeding grounds, while declining sea ice can force polar bears to spend more time on land, increasing the potential for human-bear encounters in some communities. GoGeomatics
• [New] The State of Private Investment in Nature 2026 reports a significant increase in the deployment of blended finance models, where public capital is used to de-risk private investments in biodiversity and ecosystem restoration. QUE.com
• [New] By 2050, annual ecosystem-quality and human-health impacts are projected to be about 2.5 and 2.2 times higher than in 2023, respectively. AZOM
• [New] Across Africa, organizations are navigating a rapidly changing landscape where climate risk, resource constraints, biodiversity loss, evolving regulations, investor expectations, technology and changing consumer demands are increasingly influencing how businesses operate, invest and grow. Engineering News
• [New] Invasive alien species are emerging as one of the fastest-growing threats to biodiversity across Europe, affecting ecosystems from rivers and wetlands to forests and marine habitats. fundsforNGOs News - Grants and Resources for Sustainabi
• [New] The Trump administration said on Tuesday it plans to rescind the roadless rule that has protected old-growth forests in the United States for 25 years, potentially opening up almost 45 million acres of national forests to road construction, drilling, and logging. Earth Island Journal
• [New] The existential story: 9.7 billion people by 2050, constrained arable land, accelerating climate variability, and 820 million people currently food insecure. AI Business Weekly
• By 2050 the world's most suitable arabica land - the top suitability class - shrinks by 54.4% under the lowest-emissions pathway and 59.5% under the highest. Iluminar Coffee
• To restore the world's biodiversity, reverse nature loss, and reach net-zero by 2050, more than US$ 3 trillion in financing will be needed each year. PAA
• Now that myrtle rust has been detected in Western Australia, a biodiversity hotspot with more than a thousand Myrtaceae taxa, most of which are expected to be susceptible. Center for Invasive Species Prevention
• The forests of the Southern Hemisphere faces an elevated risk from introductions of tree-killing arthropods and pathogens. Center for Invasive Species Prevention
• The Bureau of Land Management plans to gather and remove about 40 wild horses from the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range in fall 2026 using low-stress bait trap methods. Bureau of Land Management
• A well-designed approach to space mining might someday help to take pressure off Earth's ecosystem by providing an alternative to dwindling resources, and space-borne manufacturing centers might alleviate pollution on Earth. EBSCO
• There are 16 global hotspots that are at high risk of reservoir sedimentation, threatening water supplies to more than 2 billion people and impacting more than a quarter of global irrigated land. Live Science
• Biodiversity loss has been recognized as a threat to global stability for decades. Live Science
• Natural Resources Wales has reported pressure on aquatic ecosystems, agriculture, wildlife and land, alongside concerns about river temperatures, fish welfare and wildfire risk. Water Magazine
• Fear of Eviction and Buffer-Zone Misconceptions: Widespread panic exists among residents that 10-kilometer buffer zones will lead to forced relocations, land rights rejections, and loss of access to minor forest produce. Insights IAS

Last updated: 31 August 2026