Humans and other animals rely on other forms of life on land for food,  clean air, clean water, and as a means of combatting climate change.  Plant life makes up 80% of the human diet. Forests, which cover 30%  of the Earth’s surface, help keep the air and water clean and the Earth’s  climate in balance.

 

Deforestation and desertification – caused by human activities and climate change – pose major challenges to sustainable development and have affected the lives and livelihoods of millions of people. Forests are vitally important for sustaining life on Earth, and play a major role in the fight against climate change.

 

The health of our planet also plays an important role in the emergence of zoonotic diseases, i.e. diseases that are transmissible between animals and humans. As we continue to encroach on fragile ecosystems, we bring humans into ever-greater contact with wildlife, enabling pathogens in wildlife to spill over to livestock and humans, increasing the risk of disease emergence and amplification. That’s not to mention they’re home to millions of  animal species. But the land and life on it are in trouble. Arable land is disappearing 30 to 35 times faster than it has historically. Deserts  are spreading. Animal breeds are going extinct.

 

We can turn these trends around. Fortunately, the Sustainable Development Goals aim to  conserve and restore the use of terrestrial ecosystems such as forests,  wetlands, drylands and mountains by 2030. And investing in land restoration is critical for improving livelihoods, reducing vulnerabilities, and reducing risks for the economy.