Stop the Cause, Be the Change.

Photograph by Deborah Thankam Ciju

By: Deborah Thankam Ciju, 14, India

Ever since I was a child, I’ve been taught that littering is a major no-no. But when I look around my city, all I see are heaps and piles of trash everywhere. Witnessing the devastating floods and landslides in Wayanad, Kerala, where waste-clogged rivers and hundreds of lives are at risk, deepened my resolve. That’s why I made a promise to nature, I vowed to volunteer for clean-ups and reforestation efforts, determined to play my part in restoring and healing our land.

Life on land is a rich tapestry of ecosystems, where diverse species coexist and interact in a web of life. From lush forests and sprawling grasslands to arid deserts and towering mountains, terrestrial habitats support a vast array of organisms, each playing a unique role in maintaining the balance of nature.

Sustainable Development Goal 15 (SDG 15) focuses on “Life on Land,” aiming to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. It addresses crucial aspects like managing forests, combating desertification, halting and reversing land degradation, and stopping biodiversity loss. Forests cover about 30% of the Earth’s land area, yet they are under constant threat from deforestation, which has severe consequences for the environment and climate.

Implementing SDG 15 begins with YOU! Start raising awareness about the importance of protecting terrestrial ecosystems. We as a community can participate in tree planting, support sustainable farming practices, and reduce deforestation by opting for responsibly sourced products. With wildfires, illegal logging, and other human-related causes of the destruction of land, we can put an end to this endless ending of misfortunes. Let history stop repeating itself and together we can stop the cause and become the change!