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] €30 billion will be needed for infrastructure, €21 billion for ecosystems and €12 billion for food security. Portal of the EU Mission on Adaptation to Climate Chang
• [New] Widespread land degradation, monoculture exhaustion, and urban expansion continue to threaten biodiversity and land productivity in China, Korea, and Japan in 2026. Farmonaut
• [New] Resource depletion - from water scarcity to arable land loss - threatens food security worldwide. Farmonaut
• [New] With the global population expected to reach around nine billion by 2050, unlocking additional land for safe and sustainable agricultural use will be critical to maintaining supply chain resilience. CNS Media
• [New] There are regions across Africa, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere that have experienced prolonged conflict or environmental degradation but still possess fertile land with strong agricultural potential. CNS Media
• [New] North America still holds a large share of vertical farming revenue, though Asia-Pacific is the fastest-growing region, with a CAGR of about 18% through 2031, driven by population density, limited arable land, and government initiatives. Programming Helper
• [New] Already naturalized species are expected to become even more dominant in forests in the coming decades. Sonnenseite
• [New] Significant disruption to international markets as a result of ecosystem degradation or collapse will put UK food security at risk. World Energy Data
• [New] Some ecosystems, such as coral reefs and boreal forests, may begin collapsing from around 2030, with rainforests and mangroves potentially following from 2050. Altiorem
• [New] Ecosystem degradation is highly likely to continue beyond 2050. Altiorem
• [New] With the global population projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, pressure on land, water and ecosystems will intensify. Altiorem
• [New] Severe degradation or collapse would likely result in water insecurity, sharply reduced crop yields, fisheries collapse, loss of arable land, altered global weather patterns, release of stored carbon and heightened pandemic risk. Altiorem
• [New] Degradation is widespread, with potential ecosystem collapse from 2030-2050, intensifying migration, conflict, supply chain disruption and strategic competition without decisive intervention. / UK Altiorem
• [New] Africa holds over 60% of the world's uncultivated arable land, yet contributes less than 10% of global agricultural output highlighting the scale of opportunity ahead. Indepth Research Institute
• [New] The powertrain evolution reflects the Land Rover move toward electrification while maintaining the performance capabilities expected of a premium SUV. Coventry North Land Rover
• [New] Land-use change will become a more visible and more consequential feature of Australian agriculture over the next decade. Beef Central
• [New] North America land activity will continue to decline year-over-year. 1470 & 100.3 WMBD
• [New] The Gulf of Maine is one of the fastest warming places in North America, threatening the future of its coastal forest ecosystems. Senator George J. Mitchell Center for Sustainability So
• [New] Climate change poses a critical threat to forest ecosystems, particularly in biodiversity hotspots such as the Western Ghats of Tamil Nadu. Nature
• [New] The International Union for Conservation of Nature has repeatedly warned about the loss of biodiversity in conflict areas, particularly isolated, insular ecosystems that are especially vulnerable to exploitation during periods of weak governance. Ediciones EL PAIS S.L.
• [New] Fundo Pucheguin will become part of a 4-million-acre swath of conservation land across Chile and Argentina - a victory for nature, people and wildlife. Patagonia Works
• [New] Researchers will now monitor the Iberian Highlands' new inhabitants to see how Europe's last wild bovine could help restore Mediterranean ecosystems. Positive News
• [New] Industries and construction create disruption to fragile ecosystems in coastal Georgia, resulting in flooding in residential areas and home damage. The George-Anne Media Group

Last updated: 02 February 2026