Our Scans · (LF.15) Life on Land · Weekly Summary

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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] Brazil hopes the TFFF, if it launches, would make forests worth more standing than cut down, and pay out to countries and communities making that happen. SKY
• [New] Brazil will use its presidency in 2025 to officially launch the Tropical Forests Forever Facility, a global fund that will pay countries based on how well they protect their forests. Deutsche Welle
• [New] President Lula's centrepiece is a fund called the Tropical Forest Forever Facility that Brazil hopes will raise $125bn to protect tropical forests globally. BBC News
• [New] The revised Green India Mission aims to restore 25 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, aligning with India's climate commitment to create an additional carbon sink of 3.39 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent. IASbaba
• [New] India has released an updated plan for the Green India Mission, targeting restoration of 25 million hectares of degraded land by 2030 to develop large carbon sink and improving forest resilience. Ekam IAS Academy
• [New] With careful execution, India can set a global benchmark in restoring ecosystems while advancing Viksit Bharat 2047 goals. Ekam IAS Academy
• [New] Indonesia is committed to recognizing 1.4 million hectares of new indigenous forests during the 2025-2029 period. Ecobiz Asia
• [New] Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened globally. Medium
• [New] Climate change represents perhaps the most pervasive threat to global ecosystems. Medium
• [New] Roughly 1.7 billion people are living in areas where crop yields are failing due to human-induced land degradation - a pervasive and silent crisis that is undermining agricultural productivity and threatening ecosystem health worldwide. UN News
• [New] Well-managed grazing helps preserve open spaces from suburban sprawl, a growing threat to ecosystems and farmland, especially in the State of Florida. UF/IFAS Extension Polk County
• [New] Global trends like biodiversity loss, climate change, pollution and the rise in invasive species are putting humans, plants and animals at higher risk of contracting infectious diseases. Conservation International
• [New] Protecting a relatively small portion of land, according to Conservation International research, can secure the majority of what is called irrecoverable carbon - defined as carbon that, if emitted into the atmosphere, could not be re-absorbed by 2050. Conservation International
• [New] Continued high atmospheric CO2 levels are driving accelerated ocean acidification, which severely damages marine ecosystems and contributes to coral bleaching, threatening food security and coastal protection globally. Risk Prevention Mitigation and Management Forum
• [New] Groundwater depletion and the weight of heavy infrastructure are increasing the flood risk in coastal Chinese cities by causing land to sink below sea level. Yahoo News
• [New] When India envisions an inclusive and developed future, its strongest foundation is land itself. Rising Kashmir
• [New] The European effort is expected to strengthen regional cooperation, make better use of forest ecosystems, and influence future climate finance for tropical forests worldwide. Ecofin Agency
• [New] The proposed Tropical Forests Forever Facility, initially with $25 billion, could finally make possible the promise to halt deforestation by 2030. Time
• [New] Africa faces severe climate shocks but offers powerful solutions including globally significant forests, vast renewable energy potential, climate-smart food systems and community-led resilience traditions. AfricaBrief
• [New] Food systems currently account for nearly 30% of global greenhouse gas emissions, so reducing livestock production could ease pressure on ecosystems while freeing up land for reforestation and biodiversity recovery. VegNews

Last updated: 17 November 2025