Global Scans · Life on Land · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss,

• [New] Land leasing and rural revitalization for renewable projects are expected to provide an untapped opportunity in the U.S. Persistence Market Research
• [New] Vector-borne disease risk is shifting in response to land use changes, pet travel, wildlife movement, and climate-related warming and extreme weather. dvm360
• [New] Land rents in the villages of Lower Saxony and Bavaria exploded, because biogas operators could outbid dairy, pig, and arable farmers. Quillette
• [New] 120,610 square kilometers (46,578 square miles), 36,381 square kilometers (14,047 square miles), and 149 square kilometers (58 square miles) of land would emerge by 2300 under high -, medium -, and low-ice melt conditions, respectively. Live Science
• [New] One multi-use solution in Singapore that could bring in money is the future Long Island - three elevated tracts of land double the size of Marina Bay that will be reclaimed off the East Coast to protect the low-lying stretch from rising seas. ST
• [New] Many low-elevation Arabica zones will likely become unsuitable by 2050, while some higher, currently cool forested areas could become prime coffee land. / Ethiopia General Warfield's Coffee
• [New] By 2050, nearly half of current coffee land could become unusable for specialty-grade production. General Warfield's Coffee
• [New] Plastic waste in marine ecosystems is expected to increase by 65% in 2030, even under the current ambitious commitments set by governments. Siemens
• [New] Scientists warn of a likely El Nino event in 2026, raising concerns over rising temperatures, extreme weather, and impacts on both land and marine environments. Grand Pinnacle Tribune
• [New] Restoring seagrass habitats presents Qatar with an opportunity to fulfil commitments made during the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration. Springer Nature Switzerland
• [New] In addition to MPAs other conservation management tools will be required such as Other area based Effective Conservation Means to contribute to the health of Qatar's marine ecosystems. Springer Nature Switzerland
• [New] Land classified as Grade 1, using the UK's Agricultural Land Classification, has little or no limitations and will consistently achieve high yields for most crops. GOV.UK
• [New] Spain's vast land area offers opportunities for reforestation and soil carbon sequestration projects. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Italy's geographical diversity offers opportunities for forestry and land use projects. Market Data Forecast
• [New] The European Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 emphasizes integrating nature restoration into climate action. Market Data Forecast
• [New] Reductions in grazing livestock that promote plant growth could enable ecosystems to capture more atmospheric carbon dioxide, benefiting the global climate. EurekAlert!
• [New] There is an opportunity to harness the power of the cooperative ecosystem across rural America. realclearhealth
• [New] The sharper risk in Britain is policy uncertainty over Biodiversity Net Gain for nationally significant infrastructure. Whole Life Carbon
• [New] While the FY 2027 Annual Plan focuses heavily on marsh creation, shoreline protection, and barrier island restoration, long-term ecosystem health depends on sediment-based restoration. Louisiana Wildlife Federation
• [New] India is expected to play a significant role as both a buyer and seller in the global carbon ecosystem. Remind Legal LLP
• [New] For responsible mining and land stewardship, tools such as Farmonaut's satellite-based mineral detection are now indispensable-speeding up exploration, reducing environmental risk, and making global land use innovation both effective and ethical. Farmonaut
• [New] The UK government recognises that current land use is not sustainable and that there is now an unprecedented opportunity to define a better land strategy that responds fully to the interconnected challenges of climate change, biodiversity loss and sustainable development. Nature
• [New] The planet's life support systems are already under strain and without rapid shifts in how we use energy, land, and food, billions of people will face increasing instability. News

Last updated: 19 April 2026