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

Thirteen million hectares of forests are being lost every year.

Around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood. This includes some 70 million indigenous people. Forests are home to more than 80% of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects.

2.6 billion people depend directly on agriculture, but 52% of the land used for agriculture is moderately or severely affected by soil degradation.

Due to drought and desertification each year, 12 million hectares are lost (23 hectares per minute), where 20 million tons of grain could have been grown.

Of the 8,300 animal breeds known, 8% are extinct and 22% are at risk of extinction.

As many as 80% of people living in rural areas in developing countries rely on traditional plant-based medicines for basic healthcare.

Forest cover in India has increased to 21.23% - an increase of 5871 sq. km, and protected areas cover to about 4.8% of the country’s total land area.

India is among the early movers on the Nagoya protocol and is committed to the Aichi targets on conserving biodiversity.

India has 8% of the world’s biodiversity with many species that are not found anywhere else in the world.