- Posted on 19 Feb 2025
About SDG 15: Life on land
Deforestation and land degradation are major global problems, resulting in a crisis of habitat and biodiversity loss. Protection and conservation targets are not being met, with most key indicators heading in the wrong direction. Poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife products adds pressure.
Australia is not immune, with widespread land clearing and ongoing species loss. In 2021 the Federal Government added 13 species to the list of extinct species under Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The intensity of bushfires, exacerbated by climate change, is adding further pressure.
Here are some examples of our work at UTS contributing towards SDG 15.
Research from the UTS Faculty of Science explores the impact of climate change on rainfall and water flows in the Murray-Darling Basin.
Identifying the current circular bio-digester systems and the potential climate co-benefits in Fiji
This research identifies low-flammability plant species that can help mitigate the impacts of wildfires – helping to protect people, infrastructure and native flora and fauna.
The devastating impacts of the 2019-2020 “Black Summer” fires on Australian flora and fauna was seared into the public consciousness through the use of social media and hashtags, changing mainstream Australia’s relationship with nature.
Our impact
Find out how UTS staff and students are contributing to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Trailblazers for the Goals
UTS has experts working towards the SDGs all over campus. The Trailblazers for the Goals are a campus-wide network of researchers and experts advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
You can contact a trailblazer to discuss their work for the SDGs, or they can connect you with other experts in the space.
School of Life Sciences
Fraser leads research in nature-based systems including air pollution mitigation, urban livability and biodiversity support. As the Director of the Plants and Environmental Quality Research Group at UTS, Fraser advances SDG 15 through research that promotes the use of ecosystems and biodiversity to improve the livability of the planet.