Goal 15: Life on Land
Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems
The conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are vital to social and economic development as well as to humanity’s survival. The loss in forest area threatens human prosperity, with poor rural populations particularly affected. Biodiversity and forests contribute to poverty reduction. Goal 15 calls for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of ecosystems, with the aim of halting deforestation, restoring degraded forests and substantially increasing reforestation. It also advocates combating desertification by 2030 and restoring land affected by desertification, drought and floods. To protect biodiversity, Goal 15 calls for urgent measures to end poaching and trafficking of protected plant and animal species.
Source: www.eda.admin.ch/agenda2030 (edited)
Contributions of ETH Zurich (examples)
Within the framework of its core areas of research, education, campus and dialog with society, ETH Zurich contributes to Goal 15, for example, by the following activities:
Sustainable Land Use
The aim of the Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems (ITES) research is to strengthen the scientific basis for the sustainable use of terrestrial natural resources. The Institute for Spatial and Landscape Development (IRL) envisions its science as transformative, having the power to support the negotiation between the three basic aspects – economic, environmental, social – for achieving a sustainable spatial and landscape development.
Exploring Our Planet
focusTerra is the Earth Science Research and Information Centre of ETH Zurich. In an inspiring environment and in easily understandable terms, visitors learn more about the complex processes within and on our planet. Through exhibitions and activities, focusTerra wants to encourage visitors to treat nature responsibly.
Studying Sustainable Use of Natural Resources
As part of the Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences, ETH Zurich offers a specialisation in Forest and Landscape. It shows the importance of forests and landscapes for people’s well-being and gives students an introduction to ways of managing forests and landscapes sustainably. In the specialisation in Forest and Landscape Management of the Master's degree, students learn to identify, analyse and resolve the challenges of sustainable use of natural resources.
Lived Sustainability on Campus
Sustainable Campus Development
The master plan Campus Hönggerberg 2040 details how ETH Zurich will expand the Hönggerberg campus over the coming decades. Emphasis is placed on green and open spaces with simultaneous maintenance of the surrounding recreational area. Open spaces are also of great importance in the planning of the external pageDistrict Central Zurich (only available in German).
Nature-Oriented Garden Care
In the gardens on the Hönggerberg campus, the focus is on sustainable, low-impact care. Among other things, dry stone walls provide a refuge for amphibians and insects, nesting sites host wild bees and, where necessary, pests are controlled in an organic manner.
Do-It-Yourself
The community garden SeedCity was built in 2010 as part of a student project. On an area of approximately 1,200 m², an oasis of biodiversity has been created that is open to students, employees and residents (external pagemore information only available in German).