“The endless cycle that surrounds everything” is not just the lyrics of the famous song from a Disney movie; it is a reality that we are not truly aware of. Human life depends on the earth as much as the ocean for its sustenance and subsistence. Flora provides 80% of human food and the massive destruction of biodiversity seriously threatens our livelihood. Habitat loss and wildlife trade are root causes of the COVID-19 pandemic. The conservation and regeneration of biodiversity, as well as resilience to climate change, must be central to efforts to future planning development.

Protecting life on land is mandatory because around 1.6 billion people depend on forests for their livelihood, including 70 million of indigenous people and forest degradation is held responsible for 18 to 20% of greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere. It is one of the main contributors to global warming. 2.6 billion people depend directly on agriculture, but 52 per cent of the land used for agriculture is moderately or severely affected by soil degradation.

Forests are home to more than 80 per cent of all terrestrial species of animals, plants and insects and only between 2010 and 2015, the world lost 3.3 million hectares of forest areas.

The SDG 15 goal also has a gender perspective to take into account since poor rural women depend on common pool resources and are especially affected by their depletion.

To manage forests sustainably, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and halt biodiversity loss.

Society must be aware of footprint repercussions and our own responsibility of this imbalance. While some countries have 8 types of bins to recycle, others have no system to separate wastes. Waste is everywhere; policy makers must solve this problem to sensitize people.

There are countries where bikes are more common than cars because parking taxes are very expensive. You need more facilities, but your health and the health of the planet is going to be better.

The unsustainable way we consume is the quiet enemy of biodiversity. Every action can reduce the human footprint: consume local and organic food products, certified furniture, or sustainable clothes. The more local products used, the more health for the planet. We need an organic future and public institutions, and policy makers must get involved and advocate solutions and strategy.

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