This beautiful insect is a female long-tailed giant ichneumon wasp, a type of parasitic wasp native to the DMV area. I had the pleasure of encountering her while camping in Thurmont in October. The young wasps are internal parasites to a wide variety of other insects, meaning that females like this one will insert eggs into an unsuspecting caterpillar, and as the offspring pupate they will consume the host insect from the inside out. Though these wasps are native to our area, neither I nor any of my camping companions had ever encountered one. This is perhaps an example of the insect biodiversity losses we learned about in discussion - though the world of insects is wild and the scope of its biocomplexity is vast, in suburban and urban areas, we mainly only encounter a small subset of it. To see the really exciting stuff like wasps with 2-inch-long ovipositors, sometimes we have to venture into the middle of nowhere for a while.

In 2015, 193 countries adopted the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The SDGs are an international cooperative effort to end extreme poverty, alleviate inequality, and prevent devastating global climate change by 2030. SDG #15, Life on Land, focuses on the impacts of both land use changes on climate change and of climate change on land ecosystems. Certain land species are at particularly high risk for habitat loss and potential extinction as a result of temperature and precipitation changes associated with climate change. SDG #15 outlines concrete actions that we can take to mitigate the risk of species loss, such as preserving land ecosystems through reforestation methods, and prioritizing soil management. Through preventative measures like these, we can provide a better future for the rich biodiversity displayed by species like this one.

25 September 2018 – David Wicks hosts the closing of the Lion’s Share Nasdaq closing, New York, New York.

This picture was taken on November 3rd at Great Falls, viewed from the Maryland side of the Potomac River. It was taken while on a hike with UMD environmental student groups Restore and Sustainable Ocean Alliance- University of Maryland chapter. Great Falls is a National Park located in Virginia, with hiking trails on the Maryland side of the Potomac River as well(1).

This photo relates to UN Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land. This goal aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss(2). One of the main ways of managing forests and combating land degradation in the United States is through the protection and maintenance of our nation’s public lands, such as Great Falls park. Hiking through the well-maintained trails of a national forest or national park is a privilege enjoyed in many developing nations, but throughout the world across the globe forest lands are being destroyed largely due to agricultural practices, as well as urban sprawl(3). Around 1.6 billion people around the world depend on forests for their livelihood, and forests are home to over 80% of our planet’s terrestrial species(1). Therefore, SDG is incredibly important and supporting and helping to maintain public lands is one way to participate in this goal.

The ecological concept shown in this photo is the process of deciduous trees changing colors in the autumn. Lining the river, many of the trees’ leaves are orange, red or brown, and some have already lost their leaves entirely. Deciduous trees do not have the same chemicals that are present in evergreen species, so their fluids are susceptible to freezing. Therefore, these trees ultimately save energy by getting rid of their leaves for the winter months. As daylight declines in the winter, deciduous trees slow the production of chlorophyll, the pigment which usually allows plants to store food and gives them their green color. As chlorophyll production lessens, other pigments such as carotenoids and anthocyanins give leaves their orange and red hues(4).

Sources

Great Falls Park (U.S. National Park Service). (n.d.). Retrieved from www.nps.gov/grfa/index.htm

SDGs .:. Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. (n.d.). Retrieved from sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs

Deforestation and Its Effect on the Planet. (2017, July 25). Retrieved from www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/def...

Why Leaves Fall from Trees in Autumn. (2016, January 05). Retrieved from blog.nwf.org/2014/09/why-leaves-fall-from-trees-in-autumn/

16 July 2018, Rome Italy – Accelerating Progress towards SDG15 COFO Session, during the 24th Committee on Forestry (COFO) and the 6th World Forest Week at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO. Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Pilar Valbuena

25 September 2018 – From left to right, Maiike de Bats, business development manager for Nielsen; Robert Galluzzo, founder and executive producer of Finch production company; Toni Petra, executive vice president of Nielsen; Marie Lalleman, executive vice president and managing director of global client solutions for Nielsen; Chris Nelius, Australian filmmaker and creator of the Lion’s Share concept; and Nick Garrett, CEO of Clemenger BBDO, stand in front of a digital Nasdaq-Lion’s Share billboard, Nasdaq, New York, New York.

Mutualism

in this short video we can see a butterfly feeding itself from the flower. this is a fine example of mutualism which describes a ecological interaction between two or more species where each species has a net benefit.

this video was taken at Steve Groff's Cedar Meadow Farm on September 10 at around 2pm.

Mutualism describes a relationship between two species in which each benefits from the other and where there is mutual benefit. It's a common belief that butterflies and flowers work in harmony. Adult butterflies feed on the nectar produced by flowers, snatching it up with a long proboscis resembling a straw. As they move from blossom to bloom while drinking, pollen from one flower adheres to their feet and legs and is carried by them to the next. A feature that is especially noticeable in solar-tracking flowers, which shift their blossoms toward the sun as it moves through the sky, is that they give the butterfly a warm spot to rest in colder climes. most of this process can be seen on the video with the main thing to focus on is how this symbiotic relationship appears on nature.

Source: Quinn, Mike. “How to Feed Butterflies.” Pets on Mom.com, 19 Nov. 2020, animals.mom.com/how-to-feed-butterflies-13582951.html.

25 September 2018 - From left to right: Marie Lalleman, executive vice president and managing director of global client solutions for Nielsen; Toni Petra, executive vice president of Nielsen; and Maiike de Bats, business development manager for Nielsen, at the event for the closing Nasdaq bell of the Lion’s Share, New York, New York.

When I was home a few weeks ago, I stopped by Blackwater Falls state park in WV to visit Lindy Point. This is very close to my hometown and although the view is much better when the leaves are on the trees, this is the picture I took during this semester. This view of Lindy Point relates closest to the Sustainable Development Goal number 15 which highlights life on land. The aim of this goal is to restore and promote the use of terrestrial ecosystems through a number of ways including managing forests to halt and reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss. I believe Blackwater Falls state park is able to demonstrate this goal very well. In terms of sustainably managing forests, Lindy Point has a great view of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. This forest protects over 921,000 acres of federally owned land and is virtually untouched by human development. Blackwater Falls state park contains 2,358 of those acres. At Lindy point as far as you can see is forest and no development. This is a great example of a healthy terrestrial ecosystem that promotes life on land and successfully fulfils the sustainable development goal 15. An ecological concept that goes along with this picture and SDG15 is the habitat that this location provides. This forest is home to a number of species including black bears, whitetail deer, and migratory songbirds. The view from Lindy Point shows the vast land that provides habitat to all of these animals. The main components of habitat are shelter, water, food, and space. The trees of this forest provide significant shelter. The view from Lindy Point also shows the Blackwater river at the bottom which is downstream from the falls. This is a source of water in this habitat. There is plenty of space that is not disrupted by human development as well. Lastly, since this is such a great habitat for many species, the more diversity increases food for all the other species. Overall, the view of Monongahela Forest from Lindy point shows a great natural environment for species to make their habitat and to live in. This goes back to the fifteenth sustainability goal which is life on land. This picture shows a great habitat supporting life on land.

25 September 2018 –Lion’s Share partners and UNDP staff at the closing Nasdaq bell of the Lion’s Share, New York, New York.

Here is an image taken on the morning of October 17th at Lake Needwood at the Rock Creek Regional Park. You can see the beautiful fall colors of the trees reflecting off of Lake Needood’s still waters. This picture shows the intimate interaction between earth system components and their effects on the environment. The forest in this park plays an important role in maintaining soil health and filtering the water that runs off into the lake. The trees slow down water runoff so there is a higher percolation rate into the soil and reduces the amount of harmful contents from going into the lake. The tree’s roots are woven into the soil and hold the nutrients and soil’s contents in place. The forest also supports a much more diverse ecosystem than if it were not there. This shows the interaction between the biosphere (the forest), the lithosphere (the soil), and the hydrosphere (the lake). According to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15 “Life on Land,” “Forests have a significant role in reducing the risk of natural disasters, including floods, droughts, landslides and other extreme events,”(website link below). Forests also play a role in carbon sequestration which is important in mitigating climate change. Forests are beautiful, not just because of their fall colors, but also because of the important role they play in different earth system components and supporting a healthy environment.

United Nations Sustainability Goal 15: Forests website:

sdgs.un.org/topics/forests

This video was taken on 9/20/2020 at Ridge Hill Reservation in Needham, MA. This video depicts grasses blowing in the breeze. Grasses are the largest group of plants on the planet and they provide a multitude of ecological functions that connect with the United Nations Sustainability Development Goal 15: Life on Land. Grasses prevent soil erosion and, as a result, desertification. Without grasses and their roots, wind and water would cause soil all across the world to be moved away leading to significantly less usable, fertile soil. Widespread grasses would not proliferate if not for pollination via the wind. Air currents, plant life, and soil all work together to create greater diversity and functionality in many ecosystems while also resisting climate change. This video captures these interactions in play.

25 September 2018 – UNDP staff and Lion’s Share partners in front of a digital billboard after the closing Nasdaq bell of the Lion’s Share, New York, New York.

SDG 15

“We learnt so much and it makes us think about wild animals and how important they are”

Photographer: Tlangelani Ndubane, aged 15, Frank Maghinyana High School, Ludlow, Mpumalanga, South Africa

© Canon Young People Programme & UN SDG Action Campaign

25 September 2018 - Lion’s Share partners at the closing Nasdaq bell of the Lion’s Share, New York, New York.

27 September 2018 – The signing at the Lion’s Share launch, New York, New York.

From left to right, Celso Ismael Correia, minister of land, environment and rural development of Mozambique; Achim Steiner, administrator of UNDP; Boaz Paldi, engagement and partnership Manager for UNDP; Robert Galluzzo, founder and executive producer of Finch production company; and Andy Pharoah, vice president of corporate affairs, strategic initiatives and sustainability for Mars Incorporated.

25 September 2018 - Toni Petra, executive vice president of Nielsen has her photograph taken before the closing Nasdaq bell of the Lion’s Share, New York, New York.

25 September 2018 – UNDP staff and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau at the closing Nasdaq bell of the Lion’s Share, New York, New York.

From left to right: Meredith Coccoluto of the UNDP Global Environmental Finance Unit; Midori Paxton, head of Ecosystems and Biodiversity of UNDP - Global Environmental Finance Unit; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, UNDP goodwill ambassador and actor; and Erica Fleet of UNDP Global Environmental Finance Unit at the closing Nasdaq bell of the Lion’s Share, New York, New York.

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.

27 September 2018 – The Lion’s Share launch, New York, New York.

From left to right: Robert Galluzzo, founder and executive producer of Finch production company; Chris Nelius, Australian filmmaker and creator of the Lion’s Share concept; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, UNDP goodwill ambassador and actor; Farwiza Farhan, conservationist from Sumatra, Indonesia; Celso Ismael Correia, minister of land, environment and rural development of Mozambique; Cristiana Pașca Palmer, executive secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity; Toni Petra, executive vice president of Nielsen; Achim Steiner, administrator of UNDP; Andy Pharoah, vice president of corporate affairs, strategic initiatives and sustainability for Mars Incorporated; Valerie Williamson, senior vice president of The Economist Group; Nick Garrett, CEO of Clemenger BBDO; and Peter Leihn of Data 61.

In College Park, MD, I was out on my morning run in a local park in College Park Woods Park, which is surrounded by woods. This little bambi was watching me run laps as she munched on some weeds nearby. As human infrastructure and population grows, animals are pushed closer to us, having nowhere to spread out and be on their own. The deer population in College Park have been forced to coexist in such tight spaces with humans, that this baby deer does not mind me passing her every few minutes, only 5 feet away. Unfortunately, not every animal has this opportunity to coexist with humans. Larger, more apex predators such as black bears, mountain lions, and other animals are seen as a danger or as a pest. These animals are often times killed or forced out of an area that was once their home, their only choice is to enter human civilization again, but hopefully this time more stealthier. This relates to goal #15 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals, “Life on Land.” Humans are not the only species on earth that need a vast amount of space to live, there are hundreds of thousands of species that need their own space too. We must share the earth, not dominate it.

On a bike ride around College Park last week I passed through the parking lot of the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security, which is near the College Park Metro Station. I was not quite surprised when I saw a family of four deer grazing on the outskirts of the parking lot, along a line of trees. The reason I was not surprised is because here on the East Coast white-tailed deer are severely overpopulated. The origin of this overpopulation is humans hunting these deer’s natural predators to extinction in this part of the country (mountain lions, cougars, etc.). Deer overpopulation has led to significant strain on forest regrowth because they browse on young trees, killing them. In many forests around here, only old growth trees remain. Another aspect of this image which strains forest regrowth is the presence of the parking lot. This parking lot is just one piece of a large infrastructure which fragments forests and has other negative side effects such as increasing runoff which can carry pollutants and excess nutrients.

Thus, this image juxtaposes two types of negative human influences on forest regrowth, one indirect and one direct. These issues fall under the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #15: Life on Land. This goal calls for the protection and restoration of forests and other terrestrial ecosystems. If we want these ecosystems to regrow and sustain and if we want to slow biodiversity loss, we must address issues such as overpopulation, forest fragmentation, and harmful runoff. These issues are complex and do not have straightforward solutions, but they are caused by the “Anthropocene” and require our help to flourish again.

This photo, taken on September 16th, 2018, near the University of Maryland campus depicts an orb-weaver spider on its web. Orb-weavers are a type of spider common to Maryland commonly found in fields, gardens, and forests. Spiders are one out of a plethora of organisms in our ecosystem. Each organism has a niche that plays an important role in maintaining a balanced ecosystem and allowing them to be competitive, survive, and produce offspring. This photo of an orb-weaver spider represents the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #15, life on land. This goal focuses on preserving biodiversity, protecting forests, reducing desertification, and reversing land degradation. Spiders provide services that support the health of an entire ecosystem, thus benefiting biodiversity. Also, because orb-weaver spiders can live in forests, they also benefit forest health. Spiders, just like many other organisms, are vital to an ecosystem’s ability to support a variety of species, and they help to preserve the natural state and beauty of the environment.

Spiders help to sustain healthy ecosystems through their niche. Spiders have an interesting evolutionary technique they use to catch other organisms and consume them. Spiders produce silk, a very thin, hard-to-see, flexible material. This silk begins as a liquid and dries as a solid in the air. Spiders release this silk, and one end anchors itself to a solid material, such as a tree branch. By repeating this process, spiders are able to make complex geometrical patterns, known as webs. These webs are sticky and barely visible. Insects travelling through the area collide with and get stuck in the web. While the insect is trapped, the spider senses vibrations and moves towards these signals searching for disfigurements in its precisely designed web. When the spider locates its prey, it injects venom that either kills or paralyzes the organism. From here the spider can consume its prey immediately or save it for later. Spiders evolved to have these physical abilities and instincts. These evolutionary developments of spiders are just one example out of innumerable other meticulously constructed mechanisms of other organisms that create very intricate, sensitive ecosystems. Ecosystems rely on these small, yet significant, actions played by organisms to have high biodiversity, provide ecosystem services, and be resilient to environmental changes.

Life on land and organism niches work hand in hand. For plants and animals to survive, they need to find an unoccupied niche. Additionally, as organisms develop new unique niches, complex relationships from between organisms, increasing biodiversity and benefitting the entire ecosystem. Furthermore, spiders specifically benefit and sustain forests as this is one of their habitats. The SDG, life on land, is advanced through the many niches and services provided by organisms by improving the overall ecosystem by means of increasing diversity and maintaining balance.

Why do Spiders Spin Webs? (n.d.). Retrieved from wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-do-spiders-

spin-webs

This photo was taken in early September of 2018 in el Yunque National Rainforest in Puerto Rico. The rainforest is a 44 square mile piece of land which is also the biggest block of designated public land on the entire island. It has also been designated as a wildlife refuge which means no hunting any of the animals in the rainforest.

Of all the SDGs that this photo may apply to, I am going to focus on the 15th (Life on Land) for this example. There have been many regulations and actions taken to help sustain and protect this rainforest for both our uses and the actual life that flourishes in this special place. There have been over 240 plant species found in this rainforest and several endangered animals such as the Amazona vittata (green Parrot) live in this location. Protecting these animals is very important for the ecosystem as a whole, which I believe the government has done a good job doing, but other concerns such as the protection of plant species are just as important but not as focused on. Overall a great job is being done to protect, restore, and promote sustainable uses of the land as well as the life that lives on it. Many rainforests around the world such as the Amazon and the Conga are not so lucky in terms of restrictions and the forests suffer greatly from deforestation and overharvesting which in turn has huge negative impacts on the organisms living there. From the early 1900’s until the late 1970’s, timber was being harvested from the Yunque Rainforest at alarming rates. Now, it is still a problem in terms of development and construction but the overall numbers show decreased degradation since those times. Awareness and action are the two main ways that the average person can promote sustainability for any life on land. Not all of this is shown from the photo but there is clearly still beauty in the rainforest which must be emphasized when trying to reverse land degradation and biodiversity loss.

Herzog, M. (1995). Efforts in Conservation: The Puerto Rican Parrot, Past, Present, and Future. Journal of Avian Medicine and Surgery, 9(4), 271-275.

25 September 2018 - From left to right: Marie Lalleman, executive vice president and managing director of global client solutions for Nielsen; Toni Petra, executive vice president of Nielsen; and Maiike de Bats, business development manager for Nielsen, at the event for the closing Nasdaq bell of the Lion’s Share, New York, New York.

This video was taken in Frederick Maryland on September 7, 2020. I have been seeing a lot of snakes anytime I go towards Frederick County. I was curious on what type of snack this may be and found that it may be a common Garter snake. They are not poisonous but their bites can cause irritation to humans. According to the Maryland DNR, these garter snakes are very common in Maryland. This can relate to number 15 for the UN Sustainable Development goal—Life on Land. They can reside in forested habitats and also open field habitats. They can also be found in marshes and suburban yards. Their ability to adapt is the reason why this specie is doing exceptionally well—as long as there is a nearby water source, the snake can survive. Maryland offers the criteria for these snakes to grow. Maryland has many areas that have tree coverage as well as a creek. I have seen many snakes in these areas. There are parks that are protected by the County in order to preserve their wildlife and its ecosystem. This is why these garter snakes resemble the Life on Land sustainable goal, they are thriving due to the areas that have been protected by the county from deforestation, littering, public access, etc. Garter snakes are nowhere near to becoming extinct. I believe this is because of the resources and ecosystem that Maryland provides. Also, these snakes consume primary aquatic and semiaquatic vertebrates as well as earthworms; therefore they are ranked relatively high in the food web for that ecosystem and have a lot of available prey. Garter snakes top predator is the Heron, there have been so many types recorded in Maryland. We must conserve forests and land in order to allow Herons to reduce the population of Garter snakes and allow the food web to continue at a healthy rate.

www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=882

25 September 2018 - Lion’s Share partners gather before the closing Nasdaq bell of the Lion’s Share, New York, New York.

From left to right: Felicity Hill of Finch production company; Robert Galluzzo, founder and executive producer of Finch production company; Toni Petra, executive vice president of Nielsen; Marie Lalleman, executive vice president and managing director of global client solutions for Nielsen; Nick Garrett, CEO of Clemenger BBDO; and Chris Nelius, Australian filmmaker and creator of the Lion’s Share concept.

This photo was taken on the University of Maryland campus when I was mid-run and saw this mushroom at the base of a tree. Upon later inspection I concluded that it is likely a type of puffball mushroom, who has a round top and is about the size of a softball. There are different species of puffball: assuming this one is not of the giant variety, and noticing it's yellow color in its mature state, my best guess is that it's an edible puffball -- Lycoperdon perlatum. However, there are two fungus varieties that are often mistaken for puffballs , Scleroderma and Amanitas, which are both fatal when consumed (Deane).

Fungi are important to maintaining ecosystem functions through a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with trees. Ectomycorrhizal fungi, which are a root fungi, provide water and nutrients to trees as they decompose organic matter, by using their root system to funnel it to the roots. In return, trees share their photosynthetic products with the fungi through the same root system. Fungus is an integral part of forest ecosystems, which is why they relate to SDG #15: Life on Land. The goal of this SDG is to stop deforestation and biodiversity loss, which will help the many people that rely on forests for their livelihood, and help combat climate change and other environmental issues. By supporting trees with nutrients, ectomycorrhizal fungi helps sequestration of CO2, and can also slow the decomposition process, which returns CO2 to the atmosphere (Averill and Bhatnagar). In addition, fungi are part of many mutualistic relationships with insects and animals, and aid in good soil health, both of which support biodiversity in forest ecosystems.

Unfortunately, deforestation and nitrogen pollution is causing the loss of important fungal species. When fossil fuels emit CO2, they also emit nitrous oxide gas, which dissolves in water, and eventually enters forests as rain. Nitrogen fertilizer is also a source of nitrogen pollution. Nitrogen pollution causes loss of ectomycorrhizal fungi, and areas exposed to high levels of nitrogen pollution support less mutualistic relationships between trees and fungi (Averill and Bhatnagar).

Sustainable Development Goal #15 can be accomplished with combined effort to stop deforestation and reduce fossil fuel emissions. Although this mushroom was not found in a forest, it still serves the same important role. Having natural spaces in civilized areas is important to biodiversity, climate change, and human health. Fungi can still perform the same function on a smaller scale, and based on the location of this mushroom, it is supporting the life of a tree on campus.

Sources:

Averill, C., & Bhatnagar, J. (2018, August 3). Four Things to Know About Fungi "Climate Warriors." The Brink: Pioneering Research from Boston University. www.bu.edu/articles/2018/4-things-to-know-about-fungi-cli....

Deane. Puffballs, Small and Gigantic. Eat the Weeds and other things, too. www.eattheweeds.com/lycoperdon-perlatum-edible-puffballs-2/

This photo was taken on September 16, 2018 at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Farm. It depicts one of many spiral spider webs that covered a grassy area in the field. The rain from that morning created droplets on the webs, which made them more noticeable.

Spiders use these webs to catch food, which quite literally demonstrates the ecological concept of food webs. Food webs are complex representations of how species feed on each other in a community (Ricklefs & Relyea, 2014). Spiders tend to be secondary consumers. Orb-weaver spiders, which create the traditional web pattern depicted here, have a diet that consists of primary-consumers, including many small insects like flies, moths, beetles, and mosquitos (“Orb-Weaver Spiders”). These spiders also contribute to the food web by acting as a food source for tertiary consumers like some birds. In addition, when the spiders die, decomposers will return the spider’s nutrients to the soil. So, the spiders provide a necessary link between the primary consumers and tertiary consumers in this food web.

This ecological concept supports the United Nations sustainable development goal #15, which is “Life on Land.” This goal aims to protect and restore ecosystems on land, stop and reverse land degradation, and stop the loss of biodiversity (“Sustainable Development Goal 15). The area that was covered by these spider webs once had a building on it. Now that the building has been removed, the spiders are free to build their webs across the entire area. They contribute to this land ecosystem by completing the food web. Giving them space for their habitat allows them to fulfil their role as predators to small insects and bugs. Their predator-prey relationship with insects is especially important as climate change is increasing the insect populations. The presence of the spiders as a predator is an important limit to the carrying capacity of the insect populations. Their increased presence also ensures that certain species of birds and other animals that consume spiders have a food source. Their completion of the food web will help protect the biodiversity of these species.

Orb-Weaver Spiders. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2018, from www.orkin.com/other/spiders/orb-weaver-spiders/.

Ricklefs, R. E., & Relyea, R. (2014). Ecology: The economy of nature (7th ed.). New York: W.H. Freeman and Company.

Sustainable Development Goal 15. (2018). Retrieved October 14, 2018, from sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg15.

SDG 15

“I feel like I have to protect the animals to have them for the next generations.”

Photographer: Venessa Mathebula, aged 15, Frank Maghinyana High School, Ludlow, Mpumalanga, South Africa

© Canon Young People Programme & UN SDG Action Campaign

SDGs 7, 11, 15

“These are the lights we have at home. During daylight, they don’t shine and instead store energy. From dusk, they provide light using the stored energy. Because this symbolises renewable energy production and because it looked beautiful, I took the image.”

Photographer: Veronika, Germany

© Canon Young People Programme & UN SDG Action Campaign

This picture demonstrates SDG-15 which is life on land. In this picture is a growing tree and a tree grate that has been placed over the growing tree. The tree grate prevents people from walking on the soil the tree is growing in, preventing the soil from becoming compacted. When a soil becomes compacted it is difficult for water to enter the soil, preventing the tree from obtaining necessary water. Having this tree grate allows the tree to thrive in an urban environment with heavy foot traffic where the soil would otherwise be compacted. One ecological concept visible in this picture is habitat fragmentation. In this picture there is only one tree surrounded by infrastructure. This tree can be considered a habitat to several insect species. However, this tree has been specifically planted in an area of high infrastructure creating a very fragmented habitat.

While the small terrarium is not enough to capture the full beauty of a terrestrial environment, one can still see the humidity from the condensation on the sides of the glass, the moss extending sporophytes towards the sun in hopes of reproduction, and the delicate string of turtles slowly wrapping around the perimeter of the capsules. The photo presents the multitude of processes that occur even within a few cubic inches of space in a terrestrial-environment mimic.

A main ecological concept shown in the photo is the hydrologic cycle where water evaporates during noon then condenses onto the glass in cooler phases of the day. Likewise in nature, the ceaseless evaporation, condensation and precipitation of water quite literally keeps the life, living. Certainly, the fickle relationship between water and enclosed spaces makes creating stable terrariums difficult.

In nature, the lower-lying plants often experience higher humidity microhabitats than the larger trees. Since mosses have no roots, they rely on water collecting from their filamentous gametophytes or those that pool near their base. Plants just a few millimeters above the mosses such as the string of turtles (Peperomia prostrata) have slightly less humid conditions.

The terrarium represents the delicate balance between humidity gradations and the subsequent diversity of plants.

In the perspective of the small terrarium, too much water can lead to root rot or mold, while too little can dry out the plants. In the perspective of terrestrial ecosystems, the quantity of water can vastly change the characteristics and subsequent biomes of an area from a desert to a temperate forest to a swamp.

The photo ties in with the 15th Sustainable Development Goal: Life on Land, which aims to “[p]rotect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss” (United Nations 2015). Specifically, this photo that I took at 13:20 on September 15, 2021 in my off-campus room is a constant reminder that the biodiversity in terrestrial ecosystems is in decline due to human activities. If my smallest terrarium of 3 cubic inches of volume can hold 3 species and imitate the hydrologic cycle, how much more variety of organisms, functions, and processes can an entire forest hold? As the SDG relays, “forests are the most biologically-diverse ecosystems on land” and “contribute to the balance of . . . humidity in the air,” both of which I observed while building my terrariums (United Nations 2015). The terrariums are peeks into the fragile balance of nature that we as humans are upending every day.

Source: United Nations. 2015. Sustainable Development Goals: 15 LIFE ON LAND. United Nations. Retrieved September 15, 2021, from sdgs.un.org/goals/goal15.

Participants of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Youth Panel Dialogue pose for a selfie 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 shows a butterfly bush (Buddleia davidii) at Manidokan Camp and Retreat Center in Knoxville, Maryland. This plant creates an abundance of nectar and attracts many pollinators to its flowers. When taking this photo I noticed many bees landing on the beautiful purple and pink flowers of the bush. This species is not native to Maryland and has become invasive amongst other native plant life (Tallent-Halsell, 2009). This species grows rapidly and attracts pollinators away from native plants. This works against the UN’s SDG #15: Life on Land because planting these beautiful bushes in yards and other property is creating an even greater demand for pollination. Sustainable life on land includes native species gaining the pollination they need in order to flourish in their environment. In order to work towards creating sustainable life on land only native species should be planted on private as well as public property.

Tallent-Halsell, N. G., & Watt, M. S. (2009). The invasive buddleja davidii (butterfly bush). The Botanical Review, 75(3), 292–325.

The UN SDG involved in this photo is SDG #15: Life on Land. Some ecological concepts or principles being displayed in this photo is the carbon cycle and the habitat that the trees provide to small organisms. The concepts are related to the sustainability goal because the trees participate in carbon cycling by taking in CO2 and releasing oxygen. This helps life on land by providing oxygen to organisms on land. Life on land requires oxygen in order to survive, so trees and many other plants/vegetation are necessary to sustain life on Earth. Without vegetation to participate in carbon cycling, we may have an overabundance of CO2 in the atmosphere and much less oxygen in the atmosphere. Another thing the trees provide are habitats for small organisms. Habitation relates to life on land because the trees provides habitats for smaller organisms which help sustain life on Earth because they have places to live. This photo was taken on the UMD campus in the FF2 parking lot near Technology Dr on 9/17/2018 around 2:30 pm.

This is an image of a deer skull located in Guilford Woods. I came across scattered deer bones while doing field work for one of my classes at UMD on September 14th. There are many ecological concepts that could be discussed for this image. Most importantly, it is a sign of wildlife inhabiting pockets of natural areas within a heavily developed/populated region. While the deer is obviously no longer living, the presence of its bones are evidence of wildlife living within this relatively small patch of forest. It is also important to note that the lack of skin and flesh on the bones could signify that other carnivorous and scavenging species are inhabiting this area as well - potentially signifying that this is a relatively healthy ecosystem.

The UN Sustainable Development Goal that I chose to discuss is goal 15: Life on Land. This SDG seeks to use the land and its resources in a sustainable manner and to minimize land degradation, such as deforestation. By doing this, biodiversity loss can be minimized and potentially irreversible landscape changes can be prevented.

This image relates to SDG 15 in a few ways. The first way is that this patch of forest, known as Guilford Woods, was recently subjected to being deforested. There were plans to clear the land and build new apartments for the University of Maryland, however, student-led groups, along with faculty and the local community, came together to halt this project and save the woods. By preventing this area from being deforested, and shifting the construction plans to focus on utilizing already-developed land, the values of SDG 15 were embodied. As a result of this, we can see that wildlife has been able to use this area as a refuge from the highly developed surrounding area of College Park. It is extremely important that in urban areas we maintain wild places for organisms to seek shelter and other resources necessary for their survival. One of the counterarguments to conserving Guilford woods was that it was relatively isolated from other wild areas (habitat fragmentation), and therefore it was less valuable for preserving biodiversity anyways. While it is true that fragmented habitats are less suitable for organisms, a study in PNAS found that in urban areas, conserving these isolated patches of wild areas was equally as important for efforts to protect biodiversity (Lindenmayer). This is because for many species, these areas are the last remaining “strongholds” of their original territory (Lindenmayer). Were these patches of wild areas to be decimated, the biodiversity in the region could be entirely lost. Many species have adapted to use these patches as shelter for when they are not venturing out into urban areas in search of further resources (Lindenmayer).

Lindenmayer, David. “Small Patches Make Critical Contributions to Biodiversity Conservation.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 116, no. 3, 2018, pp. 717–719., doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1820169116.

This photo was taken on my walk to class where I routinely pass the Plant Sciences building. I’m not sure what kind of tree and flower this is, but I thought it looked particularly pretty in the sunlight! It made me think about the processes that allow this tree to reach the level of maturity to flower and the processes it will go through when winter comes through Maryland. The sun rays in this photo were most likely supplying the tree with some much needed solar energy so that the leaves could go through the process of photosynthesis and create sugars to support flower production. This tree is most likely categorized as a C3 plant because 85% of plants are C3 plants. This type of photosynthesis is different from C4 and CAM and is characterized by it’s 3-carbon initial product and the use of the enzyme Rubisco. Once winter comes around, there will be less and less sunlight captured and carbohydrates produced by this tree and so I expect it won’t have flowers and as many leaves anymore. I’m excited to look back on this photo and compare it in the next few weeks!

This photo relates to Sustainable Design Goal #15 of Life on Land. Forests cover about 30% of the Earth’s surface and account for half the plant productivity on the planet. This tree is contributing to just that! Trees provide significant ecosystem services like regulate temperature, provide shade, filter the air of pollutants and sequester carbon. Without trees, many of the world’s ecosystems would collapse so it’s important for us to manage the tree populations with care. With the rise of deforestation for farm use and land development, we are looking at significant consequences like climate change. As a sustainability goal, the UN hopes to manage forests and prevent land degradation so it’s really nice to see UMD be an arboretum and have intention in the care of the trees on campus.

What seems to be pretty mundane is actually a home for a particular predator. I was unable to capture it here but have what looks like either a European hornet or a cicada killer. It's a large scary looking thing whatever it might be. I'm siding with the European hornet however, as they are known to burrow inside of trees, trees that are likely dying. It is directly next to a basketball court I frequent so I've kept my eye on it as to not disturb it if a ball rolls in it's direction. Two thoughts enter my head when I see these threatening looking insects, kill it or leave it alone. I side with leave it alone personally.

I believe this represents SDG goal 15, life on land. While this park in my neighborhood is a very pleasant place to go to get some exercise and hang out with friends in nature, it does disrupt what was already a damaged community. Directly behind me in the photo is a basketball court and tennis court. The courts already force a plethora of runoff and extra sediment directly towards the base of these trees and bamboo, which is already invasive. The bamboo thrives while the trees seem to be slowly dying. Being that there is a hornets nest here it seems to be the case. There was a sense of community, that being the small pocket of forest. While here is an example of a predator is taking advantage of a dying host due to human action.

This is a picture of me picking up a brick near Paint Branch Creek during a stream clean up event hosted by the Sustainable Ocean Alliance. This exemplifies community activism in protecting and restoring terrestrial ecosystems through action and will, as laid out in SDG 15. During the clean up we removed a lot of plastic materials like cups and straws, which could easily make its way into the creek and degrade into microplastics, which can make its way into complex aquatic food webs and potentially poison animals, as well as contribute even more to pollution in our waterways. We also picked up many metal items such as beer cans that could have potentially gotten small local wildlife stuck, as well as leeched excess metals into the surrounding soil, rendering plant growth difficult due to the changes in nutrient intake and microbial diversity (Source:https://www.hindawi.com/journals/aess/2014/752708/). Overall, stream clean ups like these are an important tool in protecting the land around us and allowing people to get involved in caring for nature and considering the ecological impacts of our lifestyles.

SDG 15

“I feel so good. I didn’t know about conservation before but now I know.”

Photographer: Nkosinathi Manzini, age 17, Madizi High School, White City, Mpumalanga, South Africa

© Canon Young People Programme & UN SDG Action Campaign

16 July 2018, Rome Italy – Accelerating Progress towards SDG15 COFO Session, during the 24th Committee on Forestry (COFO) and the 6th World Forest Week at the headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Editorial use only. Copyright ©FAO. Photo credit must be given: ©FAO/Pilar Valbuena

SDG 15 - Life On Land

“Côte d’Ivoire was once a country full of tropical forests but unfortunately those times have vanished. Our generation stopped caring about nature but I hope to change this. Together with my friends we inspired 5000 Ivorians to plant a tree next to their houses this year. Taking care of our planet is something we have to do ourselves.”

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

© UN SDG Action Campaign

I took this picture at Rocks State Park in Hartford County, MD on October 14th. I am relating this photo to the UN SDG #15, which is Life on Land. This goal is to sustainably maintain forests, diminish desertification, and end land degradation and biodiversity loss. This is an important goal because forests provide many ecosystem services and aid nutrient cycles. Forests are also very important for climate change, as they act as a carbon sink. In addition, forests have high biodiversity as they provide habitats for thousands of species.

While I was hiking, I took this picture of a forested area in the park. I noticed a tree that looked like it had been cut down, as shown in the photo. The tree is covered in moss and algae and is very slowly decomposing into the soil. Even though the tree was cut down and did not fall on its own, it is still undergoing the processes of the nitrogen and carbon cycles. The tree contains nitrogen compounds that were obtained through its roots when it was alive. The nitrogen is re-entering the soil as microorganisms are breaking down the organic matter. The decomposition of the tree is also part of the carbon cycle, as the carbon in the organic matter is converted into CO2 when decomposers break it down. Even though decomposition adds more CO2 into the atmosphere, it is part of the forest ecosystem and will re-enter the carbon cycle. This photo relates to the UN’s goal, as nutrient cycles are very important to the planet, and a fallen tree is a part of those cycles.

SDG 15

“Now I have seen a little of Africa’s wild places, I think they are the coolest places and very enjoyable.”

Photographer: Leon Selepe, age 15, Madizi High School, White City, Mpumalanga, South Africa

© Canon Young People Programme & UN SDG Action Campaign

This photo was taken on October 9th, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This photo captures a dead Spotted lanternfly adult. I noticed the insect crawling on a sidewalk as I was walking on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus during a weekend trip. This photo was taken directly after I noticed the insect and quickly stepped on it, knowing that entomologists recommend killing or trapping them when they are found. The spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that has spread throughout the upper East-Coast since its first appearance in Berks County, Pennsylvania in 2014. Native to China, the spotted lanternfly consumes the sap of several different plants and has been spotted in many U.S. states since its arrival (Spotted lanternfly).

This photo relates to the ecological concept of invasive species distribution dynamics in regards to population properties. The main vehicles for which the spotted lanternfly spreads is through new dispersal mechanisms: human transportation. While spotted lanternflies do not fly, they are considered to be hitchhikers in that they search for outdoor surfaces where they lay many eggs. They are often considered to be high-risk in areas where human travel is high, such as high traffic rail and transit pathways, high volume shipping operations and cooperator, industries, and high value agricultural commodities (Spotted Lanternfly). Additionally, the spread and increase of the Spotted lanternfly population has significant effects on biodiversity and crop production. The flies use their piercing mouthes to drink the sap from over 70 different plant species. They are particularly harmful because they feed on economically valuable tree species such as maple trees, black walnut trees, willows, grapevines, birches, and more. The impact from feeding can damage the trees severely and lead to poor health or death (Spotted Lanternfly).

This photo relates to SDG #15 “Life on Land,” which details that the U.N. will work to “protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests” and “halt biodiversity loss.” By preventing the spread of invasive pests like Spotted lanternflies, as ecologists we can protect the health of terrestrial ecosystems. Effectively managing the travel of Spotted lanternflies, by killing or trapping them and increasing education efforts, will help sustainably manage forests. After all, invasive pests are primarily spread through the travel of humans, so it is our responsibility to also sustainably control these populations. Controlling and eradicating spotted lanternflies will help to halt biodiversity loss by preventing the deterioration of American plant species.

References

The Pennsylvania State University. (n.d.). Spotted lanternfly. Penn State Extension. Retrieved October 18, 2021, from extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly.

The United States Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. (n.d.). Spotted Lanternfly. aphis.usda.gov. Retrieved October 18, 2021, from www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pests-diseases/hungry-....

The Gymnocladus dioicus, or the Kenucky Coffeetree, is one of many trees documented around the University of Maryland campus. This tree in particular can be found outside of Cecil Hall, the image being taken on Sunday, October 14th, 2018. Though the tree may seem like a glorified plant with a plaque to the average student, it actually is part of a way bigger movement which is part of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals.

SDG number 15B discusses life on land and the arboretum on campus is an example of one of the goals to "mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management" ("Life on Land"). One of the markers for this goal is the development of incentives for regions to implement conservation and management programs. That's where the UMD Arboretum and Botanical Garden comes into play. According to their website, the program actually began as a land grant ("History"), meaning the university is allotted a certain amount of public land if they manage and maintain the life and biodiversity on it, allowing the university to develop on the land within the arboretum guidelines.

The arboretum plays a crucial role in the ecology of campus, as ecologists can monitor and record any changes of the various species located on campus and observe how changes may impact the ecosystem dynamics. When forest management is used in an area, data at the individual level can be collected over long spans of time. That data can then be compared to the other individuals to look at the species population over time. Variables like weather patterns, organism interaction, or construction impact can be looked at to determine what may contribute to changes.

The main ecological focus of this sustainable development goal is limiting the damaging effects that the Anthropocene has on local and global forest habitats. Not only does forest management maintain or even improve the biodiversity of plant species, but it can help reduce the effects of climate change. This is because forests are considered to be carbon sinks, capable of soaking up the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. However, new reports express concern over the status of forest carbon sinks, adding the human activities reduce their effectiveness, but with proper management and conservation they have plenty of potential (Aton). Hence, SDG15 is exceptionally important to improving the quality of life on land by conserving the natural ecosystem while also contributing to ecological research.

Citations:

Aton, Adam. “Surprisingly, Tropical Forests Are Not a Carbon Sink.” Scientific American, 29 Sept. 2017, www.scientificamerican.com/article/surprisingly-tropical-....

“History.” UMD Arboretum & Botanical Garden, arboretum.umd.edu/about-us/history.

“Life on Land” United Nations, United Nations, sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg15

This tree is a (Lagerstroemia indica L.) or crepe myrtle. It is a perennial flowering tree that is found all throughout the southeast united states. The tree is in Silver Spring, MD taken on sunday september 16th. This is the SDG 15 - life on land. It is an example of a producer in ecosystem food chain which means it takes in sunlight and CO2 and makes glucose(plant growth and upkeep) and O2 (for other organisms). It also in the broader spectrum is habitat for insects, birds, small mammals, bacteria, etc.. It is an organism that filters toxins from the ground around it, therefore it helps with pollution in it's own way and it helps keep soil safe with root structures.

References:

Plants.usda.gov. (2018). Plants Profile for Lagerstroemia indica (crapemyrtle). [online] Available at: plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=lain [Accessed 16 Sep. 2018].

The Sustainable Development Goal 15, Life on Land, discusses the importance of protecting our forests and biodiversity. Some things that SDG 15 focuses on preserving our forests for the purposes of recreation, mental well-being, wildlife protection and more. Moreover, forests help keep our air clean, provide home to wildlife species, and provide countless services to humans. On the other hand, humans are constantly changing ecosystems with our presence through construction of new buildings and roads, There are multiple issues that arise with this which includes; diverting of natural waterways disrupting wildlife including soil ecosystems, and removing pollutants from the air. However, there are some things we can do to mitigate the damages that urbanization do. One of the ways the University of Maryland attempts that is through the reforestation project. The goal is to plant young trees and fence the area in to allow the trees to root. Promoting reforestation across campus allows UMD to support clean air, involve the local communities, prevent wildlife disturbances and more. The most important solution to deforestation is that the community is involved and focused on protecting our natural ecosystems. These trees are for our future.