\u201c<\/span>Biodiversity is collapsing as one million species <\/span>teeter<\/span> on the brink of extinction. We must end these relentless and senseless wars on nature.<\/span>\u201d<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n UN Secretary-General Ant\u00f3nio Guterres<\/b> n his <\/span>message on Mother Earth Day, 22 April<\/span> 2023<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n This <\/span>month<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s<\/span> Goal of the Month editorial focuses on <\/span><\/span>Goal 15<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span>,<\/span> which <\/span><\/span>is about <\/span>protecting<\/span> life on land. It is to <\/span>conserve<\/span> and restore terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and stop biodiversity loss.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Goal 15 <\/span>matters<\/span><\/span><\/a> because healthy ecosystems and the biological diversity they support are a source of food, water, medicine, shelter and other material goods. They also provide ecosystem services \u2013 the cleaning of air and water \u2013 which sustain life and increase resiliency.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n However, the planet is experiencing a dangerous decline in nature because of human activity. The stakes could not be higher as <\/span>one million plant and animal species<\/a><\/span> are at risk of extinction, many within decades<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n SDG 15 by the Numbers<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Landmark Biodiversity Pact<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The 91茄子 is working ceaselessly to ensure that Goal 15 is achieved. \u00a0At the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15<\/a><\/span>) in December 2022, governments reached a\u00a0landmark agreement<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>– the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework – to guide global action on nature through 2030.\u00a0 It aims to address biodiversity loss, restore ecosystems and protect indigenous rights. The framework includes concrete measures to halt and reverse nature loss by putting 30 per cent of the planet and 30 per cent of degraded ecosystems under protection by 2030. It also contains proposals to increase finance to developing countries.<\/p>\n Deep dive into Goal 15 and COP15:<\/b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n In March 2023, the\u00a0UN 2023 Water Conference<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>brought together more than 10,000 representatives from government, businesses, civil society, academia and others to seek solutions to the global water and sanitation crisis. \u00a0The main outcome was the\u00a0Water Action Agenda<\/a><\/span>\u00a0containing more than 750 voluntary commitments registered by stakeholders. The Conference addressed many Goal 15-related issues, including sustainable agriculture, groundwater scarcity and contamination, transboundary water cooperation, and conservation of wetlands.<\/p>\n Moment of Hope<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n With 2023 marking the midpoint of the\u00a02030 Agenda for Sustainable Development<\/a>,<\/span> it is time for urgent action. \u00a0The Secretary-General’s\u00a0report (special edition)<\/a><\/span>\u00a0on progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals, released in late April, warned that only 12 per cent of\u00a0the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>targets are on track. The report calls for a commitment from all countries to end the war on nature, urging them to support the Acceleration Agenda for climate action and deliver on the new global biodiversity framework.<\/p>\n It also calls for deep reforms to the international financial architecture and for an\u00a0SDG Stimulus<\/span><\/a>, which aims to scale up affordable long-term financing for all countries in need, by at least $500 billion a year. In his briefing to Member States, UN Secretary-General Guterres spotlighted the upcoming\u00a0SDG Summit<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>in September as \u201ca moment of truth and of reckoning\u201d,\u00a0declaring:<\/a><\/span>\u00a0\u201cIt must also be a moment of hope \u2014 when we unite to turn the tide and kick-start a new drive for SDG achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n International Day for Biological Diversity (22 May)<\/strong><\/p>\n This year\u2019s global celebration\u00a0Why it matters<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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In Focus<\/b><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n
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<\/strong>for biodiversity will build on the results of COP 15 with the theme \u201cFrom Agreement to Action<\/a>: Build Back Biodiversity<\/a><\/span>\u201d. Now that the world has adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework agreement (GBF), the focus must quickly shift to its implementation and action.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/33cf89da7ade3a85156c5eda4\/images\/11a9f68c-fdb8-f6eb-0faa-3927c57155fc.jpg\")
The 22-day campaign, kicking off on 1 May, encourages all stakeholders to launch their actions to implement the GBF or amplify the actions they\u2019ve already taken on and inspire others to do the same. In addition, videos messages from key partners, influencers and stakeholders will be shared showing support for #KMGBF and IDB 2023. Each day of the campaign will represent the 23 Actions and Targets adopted for the Framework. Additional details, including\u00a0digital assets and social messaging<\/span><\/a>, can be found\u00a0here<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n
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The argan tree (Argania spinosa<\/em>) is a native species of the sub-Saharan region of Morocco, in the southwest of the country, which grows in arid and semiarid areas. It\u2019s the defining species of a woodland ecosystem, also known as Arganeraie, which is rich in endemic flora. It is resilient to a harsh environment under water scarcity, risk of erosion and poor soils.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/mcusercontent.com\/33cf89da7ade3a85156c5eda4\/images\/3707a105-168f-5b10-902c-83caa2859426.png\")
The 2023\u00a0![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.un.org\/sustainabledevelopment\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/Screen-Shot-2023-05-12-at-12.35.10-PM.png\")
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