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] Proposed changes in the water rights system in the American West, as well as other longstanding resource allocation mechanisms could qualify as transformative, although associated land uses might change very little at first. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Plastic pollution will become more abundant by cumulative mass than all life on Earth, with a plethora of potential negative consequences across scales of biological organization, from molecular and cellular to population and ecosystem level. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] Repeated failure to check deeds could land conveyancers in regulatory hot water. Law Gazette
• [New] Should SpaceX succeed in acquiring ownership rights, for example over asteroids or land on the Moon and Mars, SpaceX could become the greatest real estate story in history, with the possibility of listing space REITs on stock exchanges. City AM
• [New] In 2050 under the 8.5 high emissions scenario, habitat in TSCF and TGSS will remain constant; however, by 2070 there will be a loss of habitat suitability in TSMBF and an increase in habitat suitability in tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] In 2070 there is a predicted loss of habitat in TSMBF, as well as an increase in suitable habitat in tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] In 2070, habitat suitability was predicted to decrease in tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and increase in tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests. PubMed Central (PMC)
• [New] For many Midwest crop producers, the breakeven levels to cover direct and overhead expenses on cash-rented land in 2026 will likely be near or exceed $5 per bushel for corn, and be over $11 per bushel for soybeans. Agweek
• [New] Further resourcing will be required to fulfil the crucial goal of fully protecting 30% of Australian land and seas by 2030. Greenpeace Australia Pacific
• [New] More than 80% of responding bankers expect farmland values to remain unchanged in the second quarter of 2026; 9% forecast land values to decline while 8% forecast them to rise. Pro Farmer
• [New] Desertification threatens vulnerable areas around the world, particularly in Africa, Asia, and parts of Latin America. Beyond Borders
• [New] Significantly lighter than a traditional tractor and spray rig at 800 lbs vs 10-15,000 lbs, Saga's electric 'bots represent a shift away from heavy, disruptive machinery toward precision systems that protect soil health and the local ecosystem. AgFunderNews
• [New] The decade between 2020 and 2030 has been designated by the United Nations as the Decade of Ecosystem Restoration - an era in which humanity has committed, at least in principle, to reversing the degradation of hundreds of millions of hectares of land and ocean. ClockZone
• Asia accounts for over 60% of the world's irrigated land, yet suffers from low water use efficiency, creating a vast opportunity for smart technology adoption. Market Data Forecast
• Policy-based models, such as the EU's Green Deal, which aims to have 25% of agricultural land under organic farming by 2030, have accelerated the adoption of organic agriculture. PubMed Central (PMC)
• Taiwan's semiconductor ecosystem previously faced drought-related concerns that threatened chip production, highlighting how water security increasingly affects technology supply chains. Kalkine
• A recent study by Aviva found that one in nine new homes in England are being built on land at risk of flooding - often entirely within planning rules. The Guardian
• Forests in parts of eastern and central Germany show increased tree mortality and pest sensitivity, with consequences for landscape aesthetics, wildfire potential, and regional economies. The Traveler
• A deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a Dutch cruise ship has raised alarms about disease transmission and contamination risks in Antarctica's remote ecosystem. Los Angeles Times

Last updated: 25 May 2026