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] Improper disposal of trees, wreaths, and garlands can introduce invasive insects, weeds, or pathogens that pose a risk to Minnesota ecosystems. The Daily Agenda
• [New] By 2026, brands will move away from the single ambassador model and toward creator ecosystems. House of Marketers
• [New] More than 300 native plant species, including ghaf and acacia trees, will be planted to help restore Kuwait's desert ecosystem. HalalZilla
• [New] At current rates, entire ecosystems could shift from native to invasive dominance within a generation. The Cool Down
• [New] Illegal land grabs and settlement expansion have ramped up - enabled by the Israeli state - while tens of thousands of people displaced by major army raids on refugee camps and cities in the north still have no idea of when they will be able to return. Big Issue
• [New] Due to rising global temperatures, glaciers are disappearing at an alarming rate, threatening ecosystems, economies, cultures and livelihoods. United Nations Western Europe
• [New] Rising global temperatures are causing glaciers to melt rapidly, reshaping ecosystems, threatening food and water security and increasing disaster risks. United Nations Western Europe
• [New] Coastal erosion is a complex and multifaceted environmental issue that threatens the stability and resilience of coastal ecosystems and communities worldwide. Omics International
• [New] The One Ocean Partnership, which launched at COP 30, aims to mobilize $20 billion for coastal resilience, blue-carbon ecosystems, and ocean protection; create 20 million blue jobs worldwide; and restore 20 million hectares of marine ecosystems by 2030. Countercurrents
• [New] Overfishing continues to threaten several species in the Baltic ecosystem. Caliber.az
• [New] Under the updated Baltic Sea Action Plan adopted in 2021, the nine coastal countries have committed to implementing concrete measures by 2030 to reduce pollution, improve water quality and strengthen ecosystem resilience. Caliber.az
• [New] Polymetallic nodules on the ocean floor could supply cobalt, nickel, and rare earths without cutting into terrestrial ecosystems, while critics echo calls for a global deep-sea mining ban until ecological impacts are clearer. Intelligent Living
• [New] A tree-planting effort using the DNA of the world's mightiest trees could help save the world's last old-growth forests from extinction. Reasons to be Cheerful
• [New] The year 2026 will be decisive in determining whether extractive regulations are established or if the precautionary principle prevails to avoid irreversible damage to ecosystems that have not yet been fully explored by science. Noticias Ambientales
• [New] Assuming 3.5 acres/MW are used on average for all the new solar PV being added in the next five years, nearly 13 million acres of land will be needed. POWER Magazine
• [New] Across the UK, redundant land, vacant upper floors, derelict retail units and brownfield sites offer enormous potential for affordable, well-located homes. The Guardian
• [New] The Salish Sea is one ecosystem but Canada and the US are playing by different rules when it comes to protecting threatened whales. SeafoodNews
• [New] Continued developer activity, venture funding and institutional experimentation could reinforce ecosystem momentum into 2026. MEXC
• [New] The Bureau of Land Management has announced a series of holiday affordability measures that will help families save money, enjoy public lands, and support wildfire prevention efforts across Colorado during the 2025-2026 winter season. Bureau of Land Management
• [New] A 2025 study of Australia's east coast found that by avoiding just 30% of the most ecologically important land, up to 90% of habitat for threatened species could be protected. Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Last updated: 11 January 2026