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
Life on Land is all about protecting the land we live on, from the tallest mountains to the smallest patch of soil. This goal focuses on protecting forests, deserts, and grasslands, and all the amazing plants and animals that call them home. It's about understanding that every single plant and animal, no matter how big or small, is a piece of a bigger puzzle, and if one piece goes missing, it affects everything else.
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
Life on Land is all about protecting the land we live on, from the tallest mountains to the smallest patch of soil. This goal focuses on protecting forests, deserts, and grasslands, and all the amazing plants and animals that call them home. It's about understanding that every single plant and animal, no matter how big or small, is a piece of a bigger puzzle, and if one piece goes missing, it affects everything else.
Introduction to Goal 15
A curriculum designed for Goal 15 that inspires the values and competencies behind this mission for grades 5-12.
Featured Lesson: Drama
Living Record: A Documentary Table Read for Life on Land
Dive into Goal 15 through the lens of drama. This lesson provides hands-on activities and creative exploration designed to bring the concepts to life for students.
Lessons
Dance/Movement Exploration
Explore 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 through dance/movement.
Earthworks: Natural Art for Life on Land
Explore 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 through art.
The Earth's Voice: Life on Land & Prose Poetry
Explore 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 through creative writing.
Living Landscapes: Follow the Leader & Life on Land
Explore 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 through dance/movement.
The Land's Story: An Ecosystem Table Read for Life on Earth
Explore 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 through drama.
DANCE/MOVEMENT EXPLORATION
Explore 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 through dance/movement.
Rhythym Chains: Connecting to Life on Land
Explore 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 through music.
The Earth's Voice: Life on Land & Prose
Explore 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 through creative writing.
The Earth’s Voice: Life on Land & Prose
Explore 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 through creative writing.
The Land’s Story: An Ecosystem Table Read for Life on Earth
Explore 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 through drama.
These learning objectives are organized into five categories that together form a comprehensive approach to understanding and engaging with this goal.
Knowledge
- •
Identify and define terrestrial ecosystems (e.g., forests, mountains, deserts) and recognize the importance of biodiversity (all the different kinds of life on Earth).
(Cr.1.MS, Cn10.1.MS) - •
Recognize the major threats to life on land, such as deforestation, land degradation (harming the soil), and the extinction of plants and animals.
(Cn10.1.MS, Cn11.1.MS) - •
Understand that protecting and restoring land ecosystems is a shared responsibility that benefits everyone and every living thing.
(Cn10.1.MS, Cn11.1.MS)
Discourse
- •
Explore and describe how messages and ideas about nature and the land are expressed through various art forms (visual art, creative writing, dance, drama, music) by reflecting on visuals, words, movement, sounds, and stories.
(Re7.1.MS, Re8.1.MS) - •
Participate in respectful discussions about land-related challenges and solutions, considering how human actions and choices impact ecosystems.
(Re9.1.MS, Cn11.1.MS) - •
Communicate their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas about Global Goal 15: Life on Land through creative expression in various artistic mediums.
(Cr3.1.MS)
Attitudes
- •
Develop a sense of wonder and appreciation for the beauty, diversity, and interconnectedness of land ecosystems and the life within them.
(Re8.1.MS, Cn10.1.MS) - •
Cultivate a strong sense of personal and collective responsibility for the health of our planet's land, recognizing that our actions have significant impacts.
(Cn11.1.MS) - •
Foster a proactive and ethical approach to land stewardship, promoting conservation and restoration efforts in their own communities.
(Re9.1.MS)
Capacity
- •
Develop critical thinking skills by observing and discussing how different artistic elements can represent land-related challenges and solutions.
(Re9.1.MS, Cn10.1.MS) - •
Practice collaboration and communication skills through engaging in group art projects, shared writing activities, and coordinated movement, drama, or musical performances to tell stories about life on land.
(Cr2.1.MS, Pr5.1.MS) - •
Develop creative expression skills through purposeful experimentation with diverse artistic mediums (visual art, creative writing, dance, drama, music) to communicate their understandings and feelings about life on land.
(Cr3.1.MS)
Action
- •
Identify simple and age-appropriate actions they can take to protect local ecosystems, conserve natural resources, and support land-friendly practices in their daily lives.
(Pr6.1.MS, Cn11.1.MS) - •
Participate in collaborative artistic projects that creatively express messages of hope and support for life on land.
(Cr3.1.MS, Pr6.1.MS) - •
Reflect on their personal role in contributing to a healthier planet, fostering a sense of responsible global citizenship.
(Re9.1.MS, Cn11.1.MS)
Empowering youth to become active agents of change in protecting, restoring, and promoting the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably managing forests, combating desertification, and halting and reversing land degradation and biodiversity loss. Recognizing that even small, consistent actions, sparked by their creative explorations, can contribute to a larger global impact.
Taking Action Beyond the Classroom
Here are ways your students can extend their learning and apply their understanding of Global Goal 15 in their wider community and beyond.
Become Land Storytellers: Choose a favorite piece created in the lessons, and share with family, friends, or local community groups (like a neighborhood association or community group). This allows arto to be utilized to tell a powerful story about why protecting the land and its biodiversity matters for everyone.
Concrete Action: Aim to share their creative work related to Global Goal 15 with at least three people outside of school.
Local Land Audit: Become Land Auditors in the neighborhood (with adult supervision, if necessary). Safely look for examples of biodiversity (plants, animals, insects), signs of land degradation (litter, dry patches), or areas that could be improved. Then, create a sketch or write a short poem about one example that was found and its connection to Global Goal 15.
Concrete Action: Students explore their local natural spaces and identify one example of a healthy ecosystem or a challenge to document with a sketch or short writing piece.
Rhythm of Restoration Performance: Teach the Rhythm of Restoration to family members or friends. Perform the piece using natural or recycled objects as instruments to highlight the harmonious sound of a healthy ecosystem and the power of community action.
Concrete Action: Students teach a Rhythm of Restoration to at least two people outside of the classroom
Research a Nature Champion: Research a real person (from history or today) who has made a significant positive impact on protecting ecosystems, fighting deforestation, or restoring land. This could be a conservationist, an indigenous leader, a scientist, or a community activist. Write a short paragraph, create a drawing, or prepare a brief presentation about this Nature Champion, explaining how their actions connect to Global Goal 15. This helps to see real-world examples of impact and positive change.
Concrete Action: Students research and present one Nature Champion to share with family or the class.
Benchmarking Progress
A quick view of the official UN targets for this goal paired with the indicators that track global progress. Use these to connect classroom inquiry with real-world data.
Target 15.1
By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
Indicators
- 15.1.1
Forest area as a proportion of total land area.
- 15.1.2
Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type.
Target 15.2
By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.
Indicators
- 15.2.1
Progress towards sustainable forest management.
Target 15.3
By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world.
Indicators
- 15.3.1
Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area.
Target 15.4
By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development.
Indicators
- 15.4.1
Coverage by protected areas of important sites for mountain biodiversity.
- 15.4.2
Mountain Green Cover Index.
Target 15.5
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
Indicators
- 15.5.1
Red List Index.
Target 15.6
Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed.
Indicators
- 15.6.1
Number of countries that have adopted legislative, administrative and policy frameworks to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits.
Target 15.7
Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.
Indicators
- 15.7.1
Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked.
Target 15.8
By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species.
Indicators
- 15.8.1
Proportion of countries adopting relevant national legislation and adequately resourcing the prevention or control of invasive alien species.
Target 15.9
By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.
Indicators
- 15.9.1
(a) Number of countries that have established national targets in accordance with or similar to Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 in their national biodiversity strategy and action plans and the progress reported towards these targets; and (b) integration of biodiversity into national accounting and reporting systems, defined as implementation of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting.
Target 15.a
Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems.
Indicators
- 15.a.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments.
Target 15.b
Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation.
Indicators
- 15.b.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments.
Target 15.c
Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities.
Indicators
- 15.c.1
Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked.