View allAll Photos Tagged SDG14
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
This photograph was taken on October 6th at Colonial National Historical Park in Virginia and the photograph is of fiddler crabs (Uca minax) on the waterfront marshes of the James River. Fiddler crabs, while an organism that is primarily seen on land are closely related to the United Nations sustainability goal number 14: life below water. One of the key tenets of the goal of life below water is the preservation of coastal marine ecosystems, including marshland, like the habitat that the fiddler crab inhabits. Fiddler crabs are an interesting organism as well, waving their larger claw as a way to attract mates, with the larger the claw, the more attractive the mate. This is a prime example of sexual selection, where the females choose the males that can devote as much energy as possible to growing their claw and surviving while being at a disadvantage to feed due to the massive claw size. Fiddler crabs also provide a benefit for the soil in the wetland area. Fiddler crabs make a burrow for mating and safety. With each fiddler crab making a burrow the wetland soil inhabited by fiddler crabs becomes riddled with their burrows helping to aerate the soils, and enhance the plant growth. Enhancing the plant growth in marshland would be beneficial for the preservation of marine coastline, as wetlands are a major part of coastal ecosystems, allowing fiddler crabs to help make progress towards the UN goal of life below water.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
This rain barrel, found in my neighbors backyard, is an astounding example of how one person can do their part to promote sustainability. In addition to saving money and providing water for a more healthier garden, rain barrels can reduce runoff. Following heavy rains, fertilizers, pesticides, and soil are washed into local waterways. Excess soil can alter fish habitat; but, the real tragedy is the presence of fertilizers increase algae growth which eliminates oxygen in the water. In accordance to SDG goal 14 (Life Below Water) the instillation of rain barrels in areas with excessive impermeable surface can help minimize runoff pollutants.
I took this picture at a local park that I live near called Downs Park. It is a picture of large rocks placed on the shoreline of the Chesapeake Bay. These rocks are placed there in order to help prevent erosion of land and sediment that could potentially erode into the bay. One major concept of ecology this is related to is photosynthesis. Sediment erosion into the bay can cause water turbidity to be high. This could then potentially cause important aquatic plants to be unable to get enough sunlight to perform photosynthesis which is necessary for plants to survive. If many of these plants die off it can have a negative impact on the health of the aquatic ecosystem. Lower oxygen levels and a loss of habitat for other marine organisms are some of these negative impacts. The SDG this relates to is SDG 14 life below water and the sustainability of aquatic ecosystems. These large rocks along the shoreline help to maintain a healthy aquatic ecosystem.
I took this picture on September 16th around 5:00 pm. As I was driving around campus, I noticed a small pond next to the Xfinity Center, and I quickly hopped out of my car to take this photo. I assume that this is a retention pond, as it is right next to buildings and parking lots. This small body of water acts as a drainage basin for the urban area surrounding it. I chose the UN Sustainable Development Goal #14, which is Life Below Water. Retention ponds are important for urban areas, as they capture runoff, preventing flooding. The water in the pond is a mixture of groundwater and rainwater, which is treated by the vegetation in and around the pond to remove pollution and sediments. The vegetation surrounding the pond also provides bank stability and aesthetic benefits. In addition, retention ponds create new, clean habitats for plants and animals. My photograph relates to the UN’s goal because implementing retention ponds promotes pollution removal from water that organisms can then live in.
Above is a picture taken on November 16th, 2018 behind the Public Health Building on the University of Maryland College Park Campus. This shows a man made buffer placed on an irrigation ditch. I chose this one as SDG, Sustainable Development Goal, 14, life below water, which relates to the welfare of our waterways and the life and health of our waterways.
While this may not look like life below water, I chose this image for this SDG because of how it impacts life below water. This buffer does a couple of things to better the stream it runs into, and ultimately the Anacostia and Chesapeake bay in process.
First, it catches large particles, such as trash and leaves from moving into streams. This in turn catches even smaller particles. This influences the turbidity and nutrient loading going into the water ways. Reducing small particles allows more light to reach submerged aquatic vegetation, increasing dissolved oxygen levels. This mostly relates to the resource state factor, and allows for more organisms to live within an oxygen rich environment. This is turn can create a more diverse watershed ecosystem.
The second big help to prevent erosion is the reduced flow rate caused by the blockage. This slows down the water and in turn reduces how fast water is flowing through the nearby paint branch creek. Reducing the flow rate in the stream allows for reduced stream bank erosion, leading to a similar increase in dissolved oxygen from clearer waters.
This is just one example of eco-technology that assists our local watershed, and ultimately life below water.
This picture was taken the weekend of November 9th, in Annapolis, MD on the Chesapeake Bay. This picture shows a seasonal oyster box, currently empty for winter, that is used as an oyster restoration effort. Oyster restoration efforts in the Chesapeake Bay are a good example of SDG 14 - Life Below Water
Oyster restoration is critical to maintaining the overall health of the bay for two reasons. The first is that oysters act as a filtration system for the Chesapeake Bay, and maintain clean waters in order for ecosystems to thrive. The second is that oysters are a source of food and habitat for other animals in their environment. By improving water quality and preserving species diversity within ecosystems, life below water will be able to sustain itself.
Oysters are imperative to the health of the Chesapeake Bay because of the specific niche it fills in its environment, which could not be replaced efficiently by any other species if oysters were to be lost. Extinction of oysters would cause a gap in this niche and a huge loss for the entirety of the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. A niche can be described as "the role of an organism" or the conditions and resources necessary for a species. Oysters are primary producers and natural filter feeders. Oysters will pump water through their gills to trap food particles, contaminants, sediments and nutrients in order to survive. By doing this, oysters improve water quality.
Sources:
Pavao-Zuckerman, Mitchell. “Individual Organisms: Niche, Conditions, Resources.” ENST360. 12 Sept. 2018, College Park, University of Maryland.
“Oysters.” Chesapeake Bay, Chesapeake Bay Program, www.chesapeakebay.net/issues/oysters.
“Marine Food Chains and Biodiversity.” National Geographic Society, National Geographic, 7 Aug. 2015, www.nationalgeographic.org/activity/marine-food-chains-an....
This photo was taken at Selby Beach along the South River on September 21st 2020. Just south of Annapolis, this area sees frequent boat traffic for fishers and crabbers on their way to the Chesapeake Bay. Portrayed here is UN Sustainable Development Goal 14: Life Under Water. For hundreds of years the Bay has provided incalculable resources and services to humans living in the Mid Atlantic. UN SDG 14 underlines the necessity of conservation and sustainability in our aquatic ecosystems. Attempting to achieve these goals, Maryland's state government has instituted numerous laws designed to blunt the population decline of many organisms who call the Bay home. Minimum size requirements and daily catch limits are the foremost of these regulations and serve as a foundation for conservation efforts centered around the region.
This picture was taken late September after a day of rain. Its apart of the stream going through the paint branch trail. There are clearly two different shades of color in the water, this is because the lighter color is coming from a constant flow of water entering the stream from the right side of the picture. It is most likely a different color because of all the sediments and whatever else is being carried by runoff. Because of this I chose to use SDG#14 Life below water and this picture specifically links to the ecological concept of conditions changing and affecting the living quality of aquatic organisms. After a day of rain all of that water is flowing through the streets, into the trails, and pouring into the stream possibly bringing along pollutants, salt, ph changes etc. These different changes in conditions can have negative impacts on the aquatic life in the stream and wherever the stream ends up at. SDG#14 talks about conserving and sustainably using bodies of water to protect marine species and resources. This heavy discoloration in the water can be because of a lack of buffer zones slowing down runoff due to impervious surfaces on the nearby campus.
11 December 2018, Rome, Italy - Side Event: Implementation of the ecosystem approach at the regional level for the coordinated achievement of the SDG14 targets. Fish Forum 2018, FAO headquarters (Sheikh Zayed Centre).
Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Giuseppe Carotenuto. Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO.
This is part of an old aquaponics system. Aquaponics systems grow fish and plants in a contained system. The fish fertilize the plants and the plants filter the water for the fish. The services the plants and fish provide for each other are analogous to interactions in real world ecosystems.
Aquaponics could also play an important role in achieving the UN SDG # 14 Life Under Water. Most fisheries in the world are being over fished, and aquaponics has been presented as a feasible solution. Because aquaponics recycles water, it is more efficient than traditional fisheries and has the added benefit of cultivating crops. Cultivating fish for consumption could relieve strain on natural fisheries and allow them to begin recovering.
At ISAP2019, ESCAP Executive Secretary Armida Alisjahbana highlights the need for stronger Climate Action & environmental protection in Asia-Pacific. While the entire region is underperforming on SDG14 & SDG15, three out of five subregions need to reverse existing trends on SDG13.
"The ocean is everything for me, you know? It's my job. It’s my life. If you put trash in this water, you may as well be putting it inside my home. I can’t stand for that."
Taken late October in Lake Artemesia in College Park, MD, this image of Watershield (Brasenia schreberi) demonstrates several important ecological concepts.
One is the habitat it provides underwater for aquatic organisms such as fish. This relates to SDG14, "life under water." According to Robert Thomas, Director of Center for Environmental Communication at Loyola University, this plant "grows densely while leaving exposed water surface due to its relatively small leaf size" and "tends to have abundant submerged animal communities." It is quite possible that there several species in Lake Artemesia that rely on this plant to provide shelter from predators. Protecting biodiversity in aquatic environments is an important part of sustainability.
This plant also acts as an important part of the diet for many animals, especially ducks, and it can even be a source of nutrition for people. According to the US Forest Service, Native Americans would eat the roots of the plant and in Japan young leaves and stems are put in salads. A study concerning this plant's endangered status in China published with Scientific Reports (linked here: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6298988/) also mentions the importance of watershield in Chinese cuisine. This ties into SDG2, "zero hunger." Is it possible this plant could be harvested or cultivated with the intent of being a vegetable for human consumption? If so, this may be one way to improve nutrition in areas where other vegetable access may be limited and where freshwater aquatic environments suitable for this species are present.
While watershield is native to the US, it can still cause issues in our waters. The US Forest Service claims it can "become extremely weedy" and slow boat travel, as well as kill off other nearby plants due to its secretion of phytotoxins. It is good to monitor the presence of this species to ensure its population doesn't become too large or small.
This Spanish Mackerel was caught by me and my dad on September 7th 2020. This picture highlights SDG14 due to the direct connection to the conservation and preservation of the oceans. This Spanish Mackerel was released shortly after its capture and no other fish were harvested. I chose this picture particularly because my family and I rarely harvest fish from the Chesapeake Bay but know of the struggles the Striped Bass population has had in the past and the large numbers of fishermen that they attract. Large commercial fishing operations in Maryland and Virginia over harvest many species of migratory fish that are important in maintaining trophic level balance leading to a wide variety of ecosystem changes. This idea of sustainable fishing is critical for human food security as well as ocean and costal ecosystem stability.
Participants of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Youth Panel Dialogue pose for a group portrait with Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, United Nations Deputy Secretary-General (centre in red), at United Nations ESCAP Conference Centre, in Bangkok, Thailand. March 28, 2022.
This photo was taken in Washington DC this past Saturday along the tidal basin. The Jefferson Memorial is just out of frame to the left of this picture. This area of DC is a popular spot for tourists and events such as the cherry blossom festival. The tidal basin has been criticized for a while for being dirty and swimming in it has long been banned due to pollution concerns. This seems to be a major theme within today’s large cities. Nearby bodies of water stand little chance against the massive amounts of waste that pass through cities. Even in the forefront of this picture you can see debris floating on the surface. This brings concern to SDG #14 “Life Below Water”. Although the basin might not be the maintained that well its existence alone is something to talk about. It is a man made water body that aims to preserve/incorporate nature into our cities. Even though it is a man made structure the basin is home to living organisms that will suffer from continued/worsened conditions.
While it may be tough to see, this is a photograph of a deer drinking from Lake Artemesia in College Park. This lake is one of the key components to the ecosystem surrounding the University of Maryland campus, and thanks to protection and infrastructure it can continue to provide for animals like this deer as the town becomes more developed. The two most obvious SDG’s being illustrated in this photo are #14 (Life below water) and #15 (Life on land). The continued health of Lake Artemesia represents the ideal that underwater life is maintained, particularly in resistance to the growing influence of sprawling cities. Not only must the water source itself remain untouched, but sufficient area around it as well, to prevent pollutant runoff. The underwater ecosystem is also closely connected with that of the forest, as illustrated by the photo. Without the lake many above-water animals would lose access to water and food, so that goal is being shown as well. Since the city of College Park is growing so rapidly around this delicate nature, I also see this as an example of sustainable communities (#11) and responsible consumption (#12). Protecting the environment has been achieved without slowing down the city’s infrastructure, which is ideal.
It was good to meet New Zealand PM on sidelines of UNGA today. We briefly chatted about the importance of protecting our oceans and implementing SDG14 targets especially in the Asia-Pacific region.
Participants of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Youth Panel Dialogue pose for a selfie with Ms. Gita Sabharwal, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Thailand (centre in green), at United Nations ESCAP Conference Centre, in Bangkok, Thailand. March 28, 2022.
This is a photo of the Chesapeake Bay at sunset, taken at Camp Merryelande, a recreational campsite in St. Mary’s County, Maryland. The Chesapeake Bay is a large aquatic ecosystem in North America. Dozens of streams and several major rivers feed into the mouth of the Bay, including the Potomac and Susquehanna Rivers. (Fact Sheet 102-98 - The Chesapeake Bay: Geologic Product of Rising Sea Level, n.d.).
Water quality began to decrease in the 1950’s, and in the 1970’s, aquatic life was disappearing. (The Story of Chesapeake Bay, n.d.). In 2020, the overall health of the bay was given a score of 32, a D+. (2020 State of the Bay Report, n.d.). The Chesapeake Bay is overcome with a variety of environmental health issues, including pollution and poor habitat.
Camp Merryelande and recreational campsites like it work to save the bay by occupying shorelines that might otherwise be used for industry. The campsite is well taken care of, with dumpsters being kept farther away from the shoreline and proper trash removal being enforced by fines. The campsite is not highly developed, featuring only dirt pathways and old cabins. This implies that construction rarely happens, which would risk runoff of pollutants into the water. The Chesapeake Bay currently has low indicator scores for pollution; nitrogen, phosphorous, dissolved oxygen, water clarity, and toxics range from scores of 17 (F) to 44 (C). (The Story of Chesapeake Bay, n.d.) The presence of recreational campsites like these, however, do not do much for habitat protection. The summertime can yield higher rates of human traffic, driving away land species.
Recreational campsites represent goal 14, Life Below Water, of the Sustainable Development Goals from the United Nations. Goal 14 is to “conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources for sustainable development.” (Goal 14 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs, n.d.). The creation of campsites and conservation sites can help free the shoreline from being used as construction sites, reducing runoff.
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States, making it a significant stakeholder in the issue of declining water health. Doing more to help heal the bay will have a domino effect on the world’s water systems.
References:
2020 State of the Bay Report. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2022, from www.cbf.org/about-the-bay/state-of-the-bay-report/index.html
Fact Sheet 102-98—The Chesapeake Bay: Geologic Product of Rising Sea Level. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2022, from pubs.usgs.gov/fs/fs102-98/
Goal 14 | Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). Retrieved December 7, 2022, from sdgs.un.org/goals/goal14
The Story of Chesapeake Bay. (n.d.). Department of the Environment. Retrieved December 7, 2022, from mde.maryland.gov/programs/water/TMDL/TMDLImplementation/P...
Gita Sabharwal, UN Resident Coordinator in Thailand, speaks with youth participants ahead of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Youth Panel Dialogue held at United Nations ESCAP Conference Centre, in Bangkok, Thailand. March 28, 2022.
As describes the placard: with an annual rainfall of 42 inches, there is a lot of rainfall in Maryland that eventually makes its way into the Anacostia River and Chesapeake Bay. Everything in the state leads to the Chesapeake Bay watershed. On the University of Maryland's campus, a lot of this rainfall hits impervious surfaces like roads and sidewalks and goes into storm drains below instead of slowly being absorbed into the soil and used by plant life. During rainstorms a high volume of water is not being absorbed by the soil, so the area is prone to flooding at times. The flooding can cause erosion and habitat loss in the area, and increases the amount of sediment and turbidity in waterways. A rain garden helps towards Sustainable Development Goal #14, "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development" because excess nutrients from farms nearby can end up in the waterways, and can cause eutrophication events that suffocate aquatic wildlife. Nitrogen and Phosphorus are the two elements that drive eutrophication, which is the phenomenon where an unusually large algal bloom takes up most of the oxygen in the water once it starts decomposing. Rain gardens are a place where water can collect and seep into the ground slowly, thus filtering it before it gets into our waterways. Additionally, the pollution from roads and sidewalks gets filtered out by a rain garden as well. With this rain garden being built in 2013, it has done a lot of good work in keeping our local Paint Branch Creek clean. However, it does need some upkeep to get rid of weeds that were not meant to be there originally.
This image was taken outside of Woods Hall on the campus of University of Maryland, on December 6th 2022.
Links: www.epa.gov/soakuptherain/soak-rain-whats-problem#:~:text....
This image was taken on October 14th at Horn Point Oyster Hatchery, and displays large jugs of farmed algae to be used as oyster feed. These jugs are a few of dozens which are actively producing algae to fuel the growth of oysters from larvae to spat, which can then be released into natural waters. The work done at Horn Point reflects UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14: Life Below Water. SDG 14 focuses on protecting and sustaining marine resources, highlighting the ecosystem services they provide including fisheries, storm buffering, and water filtration. Oysters reefs are essential for these listed services (and more), providing habitat for fish communities and protecting shores from wave action during storms.
The unique qualities of oysters make them keystone species - they provide unparalleled ecosystem impacts for aquatic life. Reefs filter water of sediment, improving water quality, benefitting the health of all species in the Bay. Keystone species such as oysters will be very important for developing the sustainable future for marine life that SDG 14 is targeting. Supporting oyster populations will strengthen other populations of aquatic species, progressing restoration of marine ecosystems, and all of the services they provide.
Efforts coming out of the Horn Point lab contribute greatly to restoration of our waters - they produce over 1 billion oysters per year! These oysters are released into protected areas to repopulate the Bay and contribute their variety of ecosystem services as keystone species for the watershed’s health.
With our population growing larger and larger, human and industrial waste and how to dispose of them is becoming a very significant problem. This photo was taken earlier this month of a small creek on campus, where a significant number of plastic bags, along with other litter, were floating downstream or washed ashore. According to the UN, over 40 percent of our oceans are affected by pollution. Both on campus and off, it is usually rare to be near a body of water and not see some sort of pollution. The effects of human pollution are becoming more and more severe for life above and below water.
This photo represents Sustainable Development Goal #14, Life below water. Although we cant see it as easily as life on land, aquatic life is facing significant detriments due to anthropogenic climate change and trash pollution. Although this photo doesn't portray an ocean, the fact that trash can even be found in such a small stream is very representative of the scale of the issue. In addition to trash pollution, ocean acidification from excess greenhouse gases in our atmosphere is harming the majority of marine life, especially those who rely on calcium carbonate to grow exoskeletons. Given that so much of the world relies on the oceans as a food source or for some other part of their livelihoods, it is more important than ever to make changes to protect our planet's invaluable life below water.
This photo is of a bioretention project that I worked on for my job. This was a part of the Golden Triangle project in DC's 43-block neighborhood stretching from Dupont Circle to Pennsylvania Ave.
The bioretention aspect shown in this image was for the filtering and removal of pollutants from stormwater runoff in the area. The purpose of bioretention is to protect pollutant infiltration to creeks, ponds, rivers, and even larger bodies of water such as the Chesapeake Bay through storm drain channels.
Protecting these bodies of water supports Sustainable Development Goal #14, "Life Below Water." Keeping pollutants out of stormwater runoff through bioretention technologies like this integrated drainage system functions to protect life below water at the stormwater deposition sites. Harsh chemicals, solids, metals, and suspended organics can infiltrate these bodies of water and contaminate them causing a number of harmful effects. One of the benefits of bioretention integrated drainage systems is the removal of phosphorous, without filtering phosphorous contamination can cause eutrophication.
Eutrophication is the overgrowth of algae in a body of water that results in decreased levels of oxygen. The implications of eutrophication include acidification of the water. This results in a chain of events that compromises the ecology of the body of water, making the habitat no longer viable for life.
Protecting these waters from contaminants such as phosphorous is key to the protection of bodys of water and the ecological systems they support. That is why this bioretention facility supports the sustainable development goal of life below water and connects to the ecological impacts that contamination has.
Ms. Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, is pictured during the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Youth Panel Dialogue with the United Nations Secretary-General held at United Nations ESCAP Conference Centre, in Bangkok, Thailand. March 28, 2022.
This is an image of an American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) taken on November 4, 2018 in Everglades National Park. Alligators are an iconic part of the subtropics and swamplands of the southeastern United States. They are a keystone species, as they are apex predators that prey on a variety of organisms in the ecosystems as well as being ecosystem engineers. During the dry seasons, they dig "alligator holes" in their habitat, which retain water. This sustains aquatic organisms during the dry months.
This illustrates SDG #14: Life Below Water. This goal focuses on sustaining aquatic ecosystems, of which the alligator plays a major role. Aquatic ecosystems, freshwater and marine alike, are an essential part of the global ecosystem and it is of utmost importance to preserve them. Everglades National Park was established to protect the everglades, an important part of the ecosystem, much like the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland. Protecting the land and the water ensures their future as well as the future of humanity.
Here we see the remnants of freshwater clams (most likely Alasmidonta sp.) within a creek meandering away from Lake Needwood, and part of the Potomac River Basin. These waterways eventually flow into the Chesapeake Bay which leads to the Atlantic Ocean. The numerous filter feeders pictured above provide an ideal example of UN SDG #14: Life Under Water, which aims to “Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development” (UN 2020). Filter feeders like oysters, mussels, and clams provide an indispensable ecosystem service: water filtration of pollutants and wastes from our waterways.
These organisms can be found in just about every body of water in the world, both freshwater and saltwater, serving as natural filters and providing sustenance for a wide variety of organisms, including mammals, birds, amphibians, fish, and some reptiles. While we focus on developing sustainable practices to protect our waterways and ultimately the oceans, it remains important to examine every aspect of the problem. In this case, focusing on the preservation of natural filtration systems closer towards human settlements to minimize excess pollution making its way into the oceans. Ideally, pollution should be cut off at the source or as close to its point of origin to prevent damage to the environment or human health. With this in mind, implementing strategies/policies that are directed towards preservation of freshwater bivalves may prove fruitful in limiting chemical runoff into the ocean.
Sources: UN website: sdgs.un.org/goals/goal14, accessed 11/9/2020
Communications and broadcast staff are seen at the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Youth Panel Dialogue with the United Nations Secretary-General held at United Nations ESCAP Conference Centre, in Bangkok, Thailand. March 28, 2022.
Ms. Phatteeya Yongsanguanchai, a Youth Climate Advocate, speaks at the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Youth Panel Dialogue with the United Nations Secretary-General held at United Nations ESCAP Conference Centre, in Bangkok, Thailand. March 28, 2022.
Eighth meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development 2025. Panel 4: Goal 14 – Life below water (Thursday 3 April, 2025. ECLAC headquarters, Santiago, Chile).
Photo: Carlos Vera/ECLAC