Sustainable Development Goals
Goal 15, Life on Land
Description: Sustainable Development Goals: Goal 15, Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Forest Area
Between 2015 and 2021, forest area has remained stable covering nearly 40% of Canada’s land area. Over 75% of Canada's forests lie in the boreal zone covering over 280 million hectares.
Conserved Terrestrial Areas
At the end of 2022, 13.6% of Canada’s terrestrial area was conserved,Note 1 progressing towards the 2025 target of 25%. Between 2015 and 2022, terrestrial area conserved increased 33%.
Wild Species
In 2020, 80% of native wild speciesNote 2 were ranked as secure or apparently secure,Note 3 unchanged from 2015. Among species, 84% of insects, 80% of vertebrates and 27% of corals were ranked as secure or apparently secure.
Community Spotlight: Nature Canada
Nature Canada is an environmental charity that has been working to protect nature and wildlife in Canada for 80 years by engaging grassroots partner organizations and nature-lovers to help Canadians discover, defend and restore nature.
Since 2020: 40,000+ youth connected to nearby nature; 1,200+ nature organizations helping nature in their communities; and 300,000+ letters to decision-makers from nature-lovers across Canada.
Sources: Natural Resources Canada, The State of Canada's Forests, 2022. Environment and Climate change Canada, Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators, Wild Species 2020: The General Status of Species in Canada. Environment and Climate Change Canada, Canadian Environmental Sustainability Indicators, Canada's Conserved Areas. Nature Canada, 2023.
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