SDG-Life On Land
Forest Nadin (28) & Zabila (36) Forests are the most biologically diverse ecosystems on land, home to more than 80% of land animal, plant and insect species. They also provide shelter, jobs, and security for forest-dependent communities. Forests have an important role in reducing the risk of natural disasters, including floods, droughts, landslides and other extreme events. At a global level, forests reduce climate change through carbon sequestration, contributing to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and moisture in the air and protecting river basins, which supply 75% of fresh water worldwide. Investing in forests and forestry represents an investment in people and their livelihoods, especially the rural poor, youth and women. About 1.6 billion people – including more than 2,000 indigenous cultures – depend on forests for their livelihoods. On the one hand, the Agenda highlights major weaknesses in the policies, methods and mechanisms adopted to support trees, forests and ...