Goal
Goal 15 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.”
For Ghana, this means reversing one of the highest deforestation rates in Africa, protecting its unique wildlife from poaching and habitat loss, and promoting sustainable agriculture to combat land degradation. Key priorities include restoring forest cover, strengthening protected areas, and supporting communities to manage land resources sustainably.
Community Success
Key Statistics for SDG Goal 15 in Ghana
| SDG Indicator | Statistic (latest year) | Source & Implication |
|---|---|---|
| 15.1.1 – Forest area as a proportion of total land area | 33.6% (2021) | Forestry Commission. Provides a baseline showing significant forest cover, though under pressure from deforestation and degradation. |
| 15.2.1 – Progress towards sustainable forest management | “Tree for Life” Reforestation Initiative; Forest Certification; Community-Based Forestry active (2025) | 2025 VNR / Forestry Commission. Demonstrates active policies and programs aimed at reversing deforestation and promoting sustainable management. |
| 15.3.1 – Proportion of land that is degraded | 5.1% (2021) | EPA / Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. Indicates the extent of land degradation, informing restoration initiatives like the Ghana Landscape Restoration Project. |
| 15.6.1 – Frameworks for fair and equitable sharing of benefits from genetic resources | Benefit-sharing frameworks in place for forestry & biodiversity sectors (2025) | 2025 VNR. Shows progress in establishing equitable systems for communities involved in the conservation and use of natural resources. |
| Target | Indicators | |
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15.1 By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements |
15.1.1
Forest area as a proportion of total land area
15.1.2
Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type |
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15.2 By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally |
15.2.1
Progress towards sustainable forest management |
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15.3 By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world |
15.3.1
Proportion of land that is degraded over total land area |
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15.4 By 2030, ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems, including their biodiversity, in order to enhance their capacity to provide benefits that are essential for sustainable development |
15.4.1
Coverage by protected areas of important sites for mountain biodiversity
15.4.2
Mountain Green Cover Index |
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15.5 Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species |
15.5.1
Red List Index |
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15.6 Promote fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and promote appropriate access to such resources, as internationally agreed |
15.6.1
Number of countries that have adopted legislative, administrative and policy frameworks to ensure fair and equitable sharing of benefits |
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15.7 Take urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products |
15.7.1
Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked |
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15.8 By 2020, introduce measures to prevent the introduction and significantly reduce the impact of invasive alien species on land and water ecosystems and control or eradicate the priority species |
15.8.1
Proportion of countries adopting relevant national legislation and adequately resourcing the prevention or control of invasive alien species |
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15.9 By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts |
15.9.1
(a) Number of countries that have established national targets in accordance with or similar to Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Target 14 in their national biodiversity strategy and action plans and the progress reported towards these targets; and (b) integration of biodiversity into national accounting and reporting systems, defined as implementation of the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting |
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15.a Mobilize and significantly increase financial resources from all sources to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and ecosystems |
15.a.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments |
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15.b Mobilize significant resources from all sources and at all levels to finance sustainable forest management and provide adequate incentives to developing countries to advance such management, including for conservation and reforestation |
15.b.1
(a) Official development assistance on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; and (b) revenue generated and finance mobilized from biodiversity-relevant economic instruments |
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15.c Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities |
15.c.1
Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked |
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Afforestation Efforts:
The flagship Ghana Forest Plantation Strategy aims to restore 2 million hectares of degraded forest landscape by 2030. Initiatives like the Green Ghana Day (planting millions of trees annually) show strong political will for reforestation.
Summary:
The data reveals that Ghana is experiencing an environmental crisis with one of the world’s highest deforestation rates, driven primarily by agriculture and mining. This leads to severe biodiversity loss and widespread land degradation. While there are ambitious government-led restoration programs, their success hinges on effectively addressing the root causes of deforestation and empowering local communities as stewards of conservation.