SDG15: Life on land
A flourishing life on land is the foundation for our life on this planet. We damaged our land through deforestation, loss of natural habitats and land degradation. Agriculture is also reliant on land health and on fertility. Land ecosystems, such as forests, harbour a staggering biodiversity of plants and animals. Achieving this objective requires bold action to restore terrestrial ecosystems, such as forests, to end desertification, to protect biodiversity, and to eliminate poaching and animal trafficking.
Updates
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Organizations
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
CITES
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants
UPOV
Non-Governmental and Business Organizations
Shamba Centre for Food & Climate
Shamba Centre for Food & Climate
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
UNECE Convention on Long-Range Transboundary Air Pollution
Multilateral Environmental Agreements
UNECE Espoo Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context
EIA Convention
Intergovernmental Organizations
UNEP Nature & Climate Finance Unit
UNEP Nature & Climate Finance Unit
Intergovernmental Organizations
United Nations Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries
UN-REDD
Experts
Ben Janse van Rensburg
Ben Janse van Rensburg is the Chief of the Enforcement Unit at CITES.
Celeste Saulo
Celeste Saulo is Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), effective on 1 January 2024.
Charlotte Pavageau
Charlotte Pavageau works as an advocacy and policy at Biovision Foundation.
Christa Muth
Dr. Christa Muth is a systems specialist, an Emeritus Professor at HES-SO, and a member of the Executive Committee of the NGO Objectif Sciences International.
Eva Zabey
Eva Zabey is the Executive Director of Business for Nature.
Grethel Aguilar
Grethel Aguilar is the Director General of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), effective from 20 October 2023.
Ivo Mulder
Climate Finance Unit Head, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Ivonne Higuero
Ivonne Higuero is the Secretary-General of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Jean-Christophe Vié
Jean-Christophe Vié is the Director of the Franklinia Foundation.
Kirsten Schuijt
Kirsten Schuijt is the Director General of WWF International.
Luca Chinotti
Luca Chinotti is a Manager in Conservation Policy Development at WWF.
Marco Lambertini
Marco Lambertini is Special Envoy of WWF International.
Marisol Estrella
Marisol Estrella is the Programme Coordinator for Disaster Risk Reduction at the Disasters and Conflicts Branch of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Minna Epps
Minna Epps is the Director of IUCN Ocean team.
Musonda Mumba
Musonda Mumba is the seventh Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands.
Nick Weatherill
Nick Weatherill is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Better Cotton.
Otto Simonett
Otto Simonett is the Director of Zoï Environment Network.
Paola Deda
Paola Deda is the Director of Environment and Forests Division at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE).
Peter Bille Larsen
Peter Bille Larson is Senior Lecturer and Associate Researcher, at the Environmental Governance and Territorial Development Institute and Department of Sociology, of the University of Geneva.
Radhika Murti
Director of the IUCN Centre for Society and Governance.
Salman Hussain
Salman Hussain is the Coordinator of the The Economics Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB).
Sofie H. Flensborg
Sofie H. Flensborg is the Chief of the Legal Unit of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).
Sonia Peña Moreno
Sonia Peña Moreno is the Director of the International Policy Centre at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Stewart Maginnis
Stewart Maginnis is the Deputy Director General in charge of Programme at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
Thomas Egli
Thomas Egli is the founder of the NGO Objectif Sciences International and CEO of the Geneva Forum.
Trevor Sandwith
Director, IUCN Global Protected Areas Programme.Events
Body Meeting
29th meeting of the Scientific and Technical Review Panel
28 Sep – 02 Oct 2026
Gland
Ramsar Convention
Conference
Human Rights at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity | HRC63 Side Event
02 Oct 2026 | 12:00 – 13:00
Palais des Nations, Room XI
Armenia, OHCHR, GEN
Conference
Briefing on the 81st Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee | SC81
08 Oct 2026 | 10:00 – 11:30
International Environment House I & Online | Webex
CITES, GEN
Conference
Thematic Focus Session: Getting Forest Values Right | 47th session of the UNECE Working Party on Forest Statistics, Economics and Management
03 Nov 2026
Palais des Nations
UNECE
Body Meeting
47th session of the UNECE Working Party on Forest Statistics, Economics and Management
03 Nov 2026 | 10:00
Palais des Nations
UNECE
Conference
High-level session on “Roots of the Future: The United Nations Decade for Afforestation and Reforestation in line with Sustainable Forest Management (2027–2036) in the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe region (including Boreal Forest region) | COFFI84
04 Nov 2026
Palais des Nations | Room XI
UNECE
Body Meeting
84th session of the Economic Commission for Europe Committee on Forests and the Forest Industry (COFFI)
04 – 06 Nov 2026
Palais des Nations, Room XI
UNECE
Body Meeting
68th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on Wetlands (SC68)
15 – 19 Mar 2027
Gland
Ramsar Convention
Learning
Online Course
From Climate Crisis to Health Transformation: A Planetary Approach
28 Sep – 09 Oct 2026
UNIGE
Online Course
Building Climate Resilience through Ecosystem-based Adaptation Planning
UN CC:Learn, UNITAR, NAP-GSP, FEBA
Publications
Report
Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era
2026
UNU-INWEH
Report
Global analytical study on the implementation of a human-rights based approach into the goals and targets of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework
2026
Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council
Report
Enforced disappearance in the context of the defence of land, natural resources and environment
2025
Special Procedures of the UN Human Rights Council
Policy Brief
A global plastics treaty and biodiversity: converging or conflicting regimes?
2024
IUCN
Report
Strengthening collaboration and coordination between biodiversity and chemicals and waste clusters
2022
Nordic Council of Ministers
Report
Interlinkages between the chemicals and waste multilateral environmental agreements and biodiversity: Key Insights
2021
BRS, Minamata Convention
Jobs
Professional
Programme Officer – Environment Programme, with a focus on conservation in Brazil and neighbouring countries
12 Oct 2026
Oak Foundation