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] The scope of inheritance tax will be expanded so that UK agricultural land will always be subject to inheritance tax, even if it is held through a non-UK entity. Baker McKenzie
• [New] By 2026, US lithium mining is projected to affect over 150,000 acres of rural and forestry land. Farmonaut
• [New] Land overlap: Over 150,000 acres of rural and forestry lands are projected to be directly impacted by lithium mining activities by 2026. / USA Farmonaut
• [New] The Department of Energy has projected more than 10 million acres of land will be needed for solar farms by 2050. DTN Progressive Farmer
• [New] The long-term implications of the shifting weather patterns could be profound, potentially leading to the collapse of entire ecosystems, disruptions to global supply chains, and significant economic and social upheaval. UPI News
• [New] Extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, and critical change to Earth systems rank among the most severe long-term risks. Newswise
• [New] Any illegal fishing within its marine protected area is not only a violation of Guinean law, but a direct threat to biodiversity, and local communities' food and livelihoods. The Guardian
• [New] Coordinated national efforts will be essential to mitigate the long-term impacts on Turkey's biodiversity and ecosystems. Blog |
• [New] The proposed Lockheed Martin Assembly Integration & Test facility at NETPark in County Durham will reinforce economic growth and accelerate skills uptake for the wider space ecosystem. Politics Home
• [New] A groundbreaking study has mapped the global potential for forest restoration, revealing that not all ecosystems are equally suited for tree-planting initiatives aimed at combating climate change and protecting biodiversity. EnviroLink Network - The environmental news site since
• [New] As the net zero policy progresses, carbon sequestration will become a bigger part of land use. Mirage News
• [New] Much of trafficked waste around the world ends up in illegal landfills or the ocean, or it is burnt in the open - endangering human health, ecosystems, and livelihoods. Thailand
• [New] Greenwashing, infrastructure gaps in remote destinations, and the growing physical impacts of climate change on landscapes, wildlife, and coastal ecosystems will continue to challenge the integrity and resilience of American ecotourism. Travel And Tour World
• [New] A recent report by the Joint Intelligence Committee identified food security as a major risk to national security, explaining that ecosystem collapse around the world is likely to lead to food insecurity. Foodrise
• Sessions focused on women's access to land tenure, credit, and cooperatives, recognising that closing the gender gap in agriculture could increase African food production by up to 20%. Africa Agricultural Network | The Face of African Agric
• Even the timing and character of spring runoff - the lifeblood of rivers, wetlands, and riparian ecosystems - will be distorted in 2026. BoulderCAST
• Warnings about systemic risks to economies, ecosystems, critical services and security continue to mount following the release of the UK security services' assessment on Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and national security. Resilience
• Upcoming UN water meetings, the end of the Water Action Decade in 2028 and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals deadline should be used as turning points to elevate water within climate, food and biodiversity negotiations. Geographical
• Google is helping preserve the genetic information of endangered species with AI More than one million species face the risk of extinction, and without accurately capturing their genetic data, we risk losing them forever - destabilizing entire ecosystems. TechNet
• While all five species of small Asian wild cats face threats due to shrinking ecosystems, the flat-headed cat is one of the world's most elusive felines. Good Good Good
• In parallel, building a high-tech start-up ecosystem, including AI, could help Viet Nam take off. Nhan Dan Online

Last updated: 16 March 2026