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LIFE ON LAND
The aim of SDG #15 is to commit businesses to sustainable use of Earth’s terrestrial ecosystems, including sustainably managing forests, combating desertification, and halting land degradation and biodiversity loss. Forests cover 30% of the Earth’s surface. They play a key role in combating climate change, protecting biodiversity, and providing food and shelter to indigenous peoples and animal species, including species threatened with extinction.23 Alarmingly, the UN notes that progress to protect terrestrial biodiversity has stalled over the last 5 years. An estimated 13 million hectares of forests are lost annually, while the persistent degradation of drylands has led to the desertification of 3.6 billion hectares24. In line with the agricultural production sector’s increasing focus on fostering terrestrial biodiversity and preventing land degradation, RTRS Standard addresses SDG #15 in depth through multiple indicators under Principle 4 (Environmental Responsibility) and Principle 5 (Good Agricultural Practices).
SDG TARGETS AND RELATED RTRS INDICATORS RTRS Indicators
15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation,
RTRS: 4.4.1, 4.4.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 5.2.3
restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements.
23 SDG 15 https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal15 24 SDG 15 https://sdg-tracker.org/biodiversity
Responsible expansion of soy cultivation in line with the RTRS Standard must involve the minimal amount of land conversion/ clearing possible, including a total prohibition of conversion of any natural land (4.4.1, 4.4.2) (Glossary). Moreover, the RTRS certified producers must conduct an identification and mapping of the status of natural vegetation along watercourses, and formulate a plan with a timetable for restoring any natural vegetation which might have been removed due to their agricultural practices (5.2.1, 5.2.2). Natural wetlands must not be drained as a result of soy production activities (5.2.3).
SDG Materiality Report - The Round Table on Responsible Soy Association (RTRS) - Business Guidance
SDG Targets
