Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

  • Thirteen million hectares of forests are being lost every year.

  • Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood. This includes some 70 million indigenous people. Forests are home to more than 80% of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.

  • 2.6 billion people depend directly on agriculture, but 52% of the land used for agriculture is moderately or severely affected by soil degradation.

  • Due to drought and desertification each year, 12 million hectares are lost (23 hectares per minute), where 20 million tons of grain could have been grown.

  • Of the 8,300 animal breeds known, 8% are extinct and 22% are at risk of extinction.

  • As many as 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant-based medicines for basic healthcare.

  • Forest cover in India has increased to 21.23% - an increase of 5871 sq. km, and protected areas cover to about 4.8% of the country’s total land area.

  • India is among the early movers on the Nagoya protocol and is committed to the Aichi targets on conserving biodiversity.

  • India has 8% of the world’s biodiversity with many species that are not found anywhere else in the world.