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] Spain has recorded damage to 22,000 hectares of agricultural land: a figure that could nearly double according to the agriculture minister. youth4planet
• [New] The Mediterranean oak borer has already killed thousands of oak trees in the San Francisco Bay area; it also threatens urban forests and valued oak savannahs in Oregon. Center for Invasive Species Prevention
• [New] The initiative, led by Brazil and a coalition of tropical forest countries, could bridge the gap between biodiversity and climate agendas. EN Integrity Next
• [New] Ecosystem instability has led to unpredictable catch volumes and increased vulnerability to disease outbreaks in both wild and farmed populations. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The U.S. paved over, fragmented, or converted 11 million acres of agricultural land to uses that jeopardize agriculture and is projected to lose at least 18.4 million acres more by 2040. American Farmland Trust
• [New] The tough economic climate could lead some farmers to plant less grain in 2027, with an option to leave land fallow while still receiving EU farm subsidies. ADM Investor Services
• [New] The EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, which predates the GBF, aligns closely with its targets and adds EU-specific requirements including legally binding nature restoration targets (the Nature Restoration Law adopted in 2024). Gray Group International
• [New] Successful investing in lithium stocks in 2025-2026 means addressing distinct risks and applying exceptional due diligence - especially given the exposure to land, water, and ESG complexities. Farmonaut
• [New] Global lithium demand is projected to rise by 25% annually through 2026, impacting sustainable land and water management. Farmonaut
• [New] Amid the growing realities of climate volatility and environmental disruption, insurers and reinsurers are taking centre stage as strategic enablers of resilience across Asia's interconnected business ecosystems. Asia Insurance Review
• [New] Oxygen-depleted ocean zones are increasing rapidly, threatening marine ecosystems and global seafood supply chains. Informosio
• [New] Costs nearly doubled over the years, to more than $1.2 billion, and opponents voiced concerns about a desalination plant's potential impact on the environment - arguing that its super salty discharge into Corpus Christi Bay could create dead zones in the sensitive, mostly enclosed coastal ecosystem. Insurance Journal
• [New] By 2026, the vertical farming model is positioned as a core strategy for increasing food production in cities, reducing environmental risk in forestry and mine rehabilitation projects, and expanding scalable agriculture where arable land is limited. Farmonaut
• [New] By Q4 2026, expect a fully developed AI advertising ecosystem that generates higher revenue per query than traditional search ads. Tech Insider
• [New] In a year defined by volatility and geopolitical risk, Tether's USDT has quietly cemented its position as a keystone of the entire crypto ecosystem. Crypto.com
• As the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures moves from voluntary pilot programs to rigorous integration with International Sustainability Standards Board requirements, the window for ignoring biodiversity risk is officially closing. Finance
• Tropical forests, which harbor more than half of all terrestrial species, continue to be lost at approximately 10 million hectares per year, despite pledges at COP26 to end deforestation by 2030. Gray Group International
• Regulatory requirements for biodiversity impact assessments, net gain requirements (the UK requires 10% biodiversity net gain on all new developments), and environmental permitting delays create project timeline and cost risks. Gray Group International
• Fashion and textiles: Cotton production (which uses 2.5% of global arable land and 6% of global pesticide use), leather supply chains linked to cattle ranching and deforestation, and synthetic fibers contributing to microplastic pollution all create biodiversity risks. Gray Group International
• A palm oil supply chain in Borneo faces different biodiversity risks than one in West Africa, even though both involve deforestation pressure. Gray Group International
• Severe droughts affecting individual major agricultural regions can cause substantial crop yield losses and ecosystem productivity declines, and that spatially compounding droughts across breadbasket regions have the potential to reduce global harvests, with impacts on agriculture and food systems. Nature
• In 2026, African diamond mining is projected to affect over 1.2 million hectares of land and forest ecosystems. Farmonaut
• The Canada Border Services Agency will see C$ 4.3 billion trimmed - 41% of its voted appropriations-forcing the agency to mothball low-traffic land crossings, reduce secondary inspections at airports and further postpone its long-planned traveler analytics platform. / Canada VisaHQ

Last updated: 06 April 2026