Life on land: The relationship between sustainable development, food security, and Vision 2030

International Sustainable Development Consultant Dr. Maatouq Al-Sharif emphasized that the fifteenth UN Sustainable Development Goal, "Life on Land," is not merely a supplementary or recreational environmental issue, but rather the central pillar and unifying axis upon which the other UN goals are based. Al-Sharif cautioned against treating this goal in isolation from its broader context, given its intrinsic and direct link to global food security, public health, macroeconomic stability, and the quality of life for human societies.

Global context and the importance of Goal 15

Al-Sharif's remarks come at a time when the world is facing unprecedented environmental challenges. Since the United Nations adopted the Sustainable Development Goals in 2015, Goal 15 has emerged as a cornerstone in combating desertification, land degradation, and biodiversity loss. Well-documented scientific evidence indicates that the health of terrestrial ecosystems is the primary guarantor of the continuity of food supply chains, as agriculture depends entirely on soil quality, water availability, and climate balance. This makes protecting terrestrial ecosystems an absolute necessity for eradicating poverty and hunger and achieving human well-being.

Saudi Vision 2030: A pioneering model in environmental protection

In linking global goals with national efforts, the international consultant explained that Saudi Vision 2030 has presented an exceptional model in adopting a comprehensive development approach. The Vision has placed environmental protection and natural resource conservation at the heart of its national programs, achieving a delicate balance between rapid economic growth and nature preservation. These efforts are clearly demonstrated in the launch of the Saudi Green Initiative, which aims to plant billions of trees and reduce carbon emissions, as well as the significant expansion in the establishment of royal and natural reserves designed to reintroduce wildlife and protect vegetation from overgrazing and logging.

Corporate social responsibility and the camping season

With the arrival of milder weather and the onset of winter, a season that sees a surge in desert excursions and camping trips by citizens and residents, Al-Sharif emphasized the need to translate environmental awareness into tangible daily behavior. He called for the activation of the concept of "environmental citizenship," highlighting the moral and national responsibility individuals bear towards the land whose bounty they enjoy.

Al-Sharif addressed a direct message to park visitors about the necessity of adhering to sound environmental practices, such as:

• Strict preservation of vegetation cover and avoiding running over plants with cars.
• Completely refrain from lighting fires directly on the ground in places other than designated ones, to avoid killing microorganisms in the soil and disfiguring the general view.
• Do not leave behind plastic waste, which poses a deadly threat to wildlife and takes hundreds of years to decompose.

He concluded by emphasizing that protecting “life on land” is an investment in the future of coming generations, and requires close cooperation between government efforts, organized volunteer work, and community awareness, to ensure the sustainability of natural resources and transform ambitious national visions into a prosperous reality.