PROTECTING THE LAND
OUR EARTH'S LAND ECOSYSTEM TODAY
UNÂ PROGRESS 2019
PROTECTING BIODIVERSITY
We must protect important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity to ensure long-term use of terrestrial and freshwater resources. The mean percentage of protected biodiversity areas has increased from 33.1% in 2000 to 46.1% in 2018 for terrestrial areas. For freshwater areas, it increased from 30.5% in 2000 to 43.2% in 2018, and from 32.9% in 2000 to 44.7% in 2018 for mountainous areas. Protecting these vital areas is crucial for the survival of the species that make them their home. Protecting these regions can help improve their ecosystems and create more healthy life on earth.
LAND DEGREDATION
Land degradation is the loss of quality or pollution of soils and land utility. This can negatively affect plant growth which affects food production and other systems which use the soil. More than one fifth of the Earth’s total land was degraded from 2000 to 2015. This was due to humans negatively affecting the soil. This also can harm certain species as they need the soil to survive. As we continue to destroy the Earth’s soils, we will not only hurt other species, but we will be doing the most harm to ourselves as we are destroying our own sources of food. We must protect the soil to protect species who need and protect ourselves from starvation.
PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF SPECIES
The extinction of species is another impact that greatly affects the Earth’s ecosystems. The Red List index measures species extinction by a scale of 0’s and 1’s. A one indicates no threat and a zero indicates that all species are extinct. The scale at which species are becoming extinct has seen a loss from 0.82 in 1993 to 0.73 in 2019 globally. Protecting the species that inhabit Earth is one of the most vital things we as a human race need to do for survival. Species extinction is irreversible. We must protect all species by stopping the destruction of their ecosystems and illegal poaching of animal species.
UN FUTURE GOALS
By 2020
​Conserve and restore terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems, particularly wetlands, mountains, forests, and drylands
Implement rules and regulations to prevent deforestation and restore the Earths vital forests to increase afforestation globally
Reduce the impact of invasive alien species in both land and water ecosystems
By 2030
​Conserve mountain ecosystems and their biodiversity
Combat deforestation and restore soil that has been affected by land degradation, including desertification and droughts and floods
WORK TOGETHER
Working together to help prevent deforestation, restore our valuable soil from the affects of land degradation, and preventing the extinction of animal species will only help our planet become healthier and survive. We as humans, need the soil to produce food vital to our health. We need animals for food consumption, utilities, and to keep other species in check.We need our forests to keep the flow of oxygen on our planet and to reduce CO2 levels. All of these things are extremely important to the survival of the human race. What you can do to help is plant trees, protect the soil, and help protect animals to keep out planet healthy and clean.
