SDG 15 - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

Show improvement in stage 4

· Deforestation and forest degradation

· Genetic diversity of farms and domesticated animals

· Land remediation

· Landscapes forest management and fiber sourcing

· Mountain ecosystems

· Natural habit degradation

· Terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems

Coming Soon

---

Actions for SDG 15

Collaborate on initiatives that assess and correct the environmental impact of activities on biodiversity ⬇

• Create green areas in the facilities with autonomous vegetation
• Propose excursions in connection with reforestation days and promote participation in them
• Preserve green spaces with natural value and promote their connectivity of biodiversity and the functionality of terrestrial ecosystems
• Collaborate with local organizations in the conservation or reforestation of green areas
• Recycle biodegradable garbage to use as fertilizer in agriculture or gardening
• Measure, manage and mitigate impacts on ecosystems and natural resources
• Scale up best practices for land use planning and management
• Invest in natural infrastructure as a cost-competitive alternative to grey infrastructure
• Finance the restoration of degraded land for production and/or conservation purposes
• Support and apply landscape approaches, based on multi-stakeholder dialogue and collaborative action, to overcome social and environmental fracture lines in landscapes facing deforestation, land and ecosystem degradation

Feature information about natural resources of the territory, its places of interest and levels of responsible use ⬇

• Train employees on the treatment and protection of animal and plant species in our environment
• Provide information about the natural resources of the environment to visitors
• Organize, with scientific support, visits to conservation areas and encourage enjoyment activities of terrestrial flora and fauna (bird watching, hiking, etc.)
• Promote activities in nature
• Promote sustainable forest management by collaborating with associations and NGOs

Guarantee the maintenance of native flora and fauna, as well as the norms regarding exotic species ⬇

• Provide training on exotic and invasive species
• Inform your customers about the exotic species in your area
• Establish a list of exotic species and invasive species specific to the area
• Fight against the commercialization of exotic species

Develop activities that respect natural heritage globally, including interaction with animals ⬇

• Carry out learning experiences in nature for our customers and their families
• Install composting units
• Promote natural peri-urban spaces and stimulate urban biodiversity
• Promote the visit to environmental education centers
• Organize guided tours of places of great environmental value by bike or on foot including night tours
• Commit to and implement responsible sourcing practices beyond compliance - applying environmental and social safeguards - for all raw materials and commodities
• Expand markets for responsible forest products and thereby support sustainable forest management
• Foster product and technology innovation to optimize resource efficiency, reduce impacts on ecosystems and lower carbon emissions
• Scale up industrial reuse of water and support watershed protection programs

Apply measures to prevent the degradation of habitats, species and ecosystems of the territory ⬇

• Reduce the use of pesticides in the vegetation of your organization if applicable
• Be respectful of our unpaved roads and routes
• Organize waste and plastics collection programs in forests
• Spread campaigns related to habitat degradation

---

SDG 15 in Canada

Mainstreaming biodiversity ⬇

Overview: Canada’s biodiversity Canada has:

• the world’s longest coastline
• 9% of the world’s forests, including about 270 million hectares of boreal forest
• 25% of the world’s wetlands
• 37% of the world’s total lake area
• 673 species of birds
• some of the largest remaining herds of free-ranging caribou and other large mammals, such as polar bears

Canada has a long history of supporting the mainstreaming of biodiversity into productive sectors. This includes

• efforts to incorporate biodiversity considerations into the agricultural, fisheries, forestry and tourism sectors.
• improve policy coherence by integrating actions for conserving biodiversity with other environmental and socio-economic objectives.
• For instance, Canada has established a pan-Canadian working group to address issues of climate change and biodiversity loss in a coordinated way, and to promote the integration of biodiversity considerations into climate change decisions.

In 2018, the Government of Canada committed $1.3 billion over 5 years to protect Canada’s Nature Legacy, representing one of the most significant investments in nature conservation in Canadian history. The funding will allow Canada, working closely with its partners, to make progress in securing land for conservation, support federal, provincial and territorial efforts to protect species and support Indigenous capacity to conserve land and species.

Sustainable forest management ⬇

• About two thirds of Canada’s species of plants, animals and microorganisms live in the forest. Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial governments promote proactive, long-term species and biodiversity protection, including through legislation and policies, certification, participation in science and research initiatives and stakeholder engagement.
• Canada is a world leader in the development and application of sustainable forest management (SFM) practices. SFM in Canada is based on rigorous laws and regulations, scientific research, monitoring, planning and public participation. This includes developing science-based forest management plans that ensure that harvested wood does not exceed sustainable wood supply. All areas harvested on public lands are required to be regenerated.

Sustainability in the agricultural sector ⬇

• The Canadian Agricultural Partnership, launched in 2017, is a 5-year, $3-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector, ensuring continued innovation, growth and prosperity.
• The Partnership will support sustainable growth in the sector, aiming to enhance competitiveness while achieving progress on environmental sustainability and climate change mitigation and adaptation. Specifically, these investments are supporting the resiliency and sustainability of the sector, helping farmers adapt to climate change, conserve water and soil resources, and grow their businesses sustainably to meet increasing global food demand

Wetlands conservation and restoration ⬇

• The North American Waterfowl Management Plan (NAWMP), an international action plan to conserve migratory birds throughout Canada, the United States and Mexico, is the cornerstone of wetland and waterfowl conservation in Canada.
• Since its creation, NAWMP partners have worked to conserve and restore wetlands, associated uplands and other key habitats for waterfowl across North America. The influence of NAWMP partners has been wide ranging: shaping land-use, agricultural and public policies; integrating science and monitoring systems into planning; and delivering habitat programs.

Conserving and managing wildlife ⬇

• Canada has a robust legal framework for conserving and managing wildlife. The Species at Risk Act legally protects endangered or threatened organisms and their habitats. This federal law is complemented by laws and policies in provinces and territories.
• A range of funding programs such as the Habitat Stewardship Program support on-theground action in Canada to conserve and restore habitat and address threats to species at risk. Roughly 80% of the nearly 30,000 assessed species are considered secure and 20% are at some level of risk of extinction.

Invasive alien species ⬇

• National-level cooperation on invasive alien species (IAS) prevention, early detection and rapid response, and management is strong, but continued collaborative effort is necessary among federal departments, provincial and territorial governments and other stakeholders to prevent the introduction of new species and diseases in Canada. Pathways for IAS in Canada are generally understood, but risks and priorities vary regionally. An effective national regulatory framework is in place.
• Polar bear management in Canada: Canada is home to roughly two thirds of the world’s polar bears. The Polar Bear Administrative Committee (PBAC), formed in 1969, is a forum for Canadian jurisdictions to work together to manage polar bears in Canada. PBAC is made up of representatives from the federal, provincial and territorial governments, partners that share legal responsibility for the management of polar bears under land claims agreements and organizations representing Indigenous peoples

---

Latest updates/Resources related to SDG 15

Sources

• Government of Canada, Canada’s Implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development - Voluntary National Review, 2018

• SDG Compass, Learn More About the SDGs, 2015