Report on Enhancing Local Biodiversity in Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Addressing Biodiversity Loss Through Local Action

The global decline in pollinator populations presents a significant threat to ecosystem stability and food security, directly impacting the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This report outlines a strategic approach for property owners to contribute to reversing this trend by replacing invasive, non-native plant species with ecologically beneficial native plants. This action directly supports SDG 15 (Life on Land) by protecting biodiversity and restoring terrestrial ecosystems, and contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) by ensuring the viability of pollinators essential for agriculture.

The Threat of Invasive Species to SDG 15: Life on Land

Invasive plant species are a primary driver of biodiversity loss, a critical concern addressed in SDG 15. These non-native plants outcompete indigenous flora for resources, leading to degraded habitats and a reduction in food sources for native wildlife, including essential pollinators. The proliferation of these species undermines several targets within SDG 15:

• Target 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.
• Target 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.

By actively removing invasive plants and cultivating native alternatives, communities can make a tangible contribution to these global targets at a local level.

Recommended Native Plant Substitutions for Ecosystem Restoration

The following list provides a practical guide for replacing common invasive plants with native species that support pollinators and contribute to healthy ecosystems. The cultivation of berry-producing native plants also provides critical food sources for avian species during fall and winter, further enhancing local biodiversity.

• Invasive: Japanese Honeysuckle
  Native Alternative: Coral Honeysuckle
• Invasive: Amur Honeysuckle
  Native Alternative: Spicebush
• Invasive: Garlic Mustard
  Native Alternative: Bee Balm
• Invasive: Lesser Celandine
  Native Alternative: Golden Ragwort
• Invasive: Dame’s Rocket
  Native Alternative: Woodland Phlox
• Invasive: Purple Loosestrife
  Native Alternative: Gayfeather or Queen of the Prairie
• Invasive: Common Privet
  Native Alternative: Winterberry or Gray Dogwood
• Invasive: Asian Bittersweet
  Native Alternative: Virginia Creeper
• Invasive: Wintercreeper
  Native Alternative: Bearberry
• Invasive: Japanese Barberry Shrub
  Native Alternative: Chokeberry or Virginia Sweetspire
• Invasive: Burning Bush
  Native Alternative: Highbush Blueberry or Fragrant Sumac
• Invasive: Butterfly Bush
  Native Alternative: Joe Pye Weed
• Invasive: Glossy Buckthorn
  Native Alternative: Arrowwood Viburnum
• Invasive: Common Buckthorn
  Native Alternative: Witch Hazel
• Invasive: Autumn or Russian Olive
  Native Alternative: Button Bush, Fringe Tree, or Red Buckeye
• Invasive: Multiflora Rose
  Native Alternative: Pasture Rose
• Invasive: Norway Maple Tree
  Native Alternative: Sugar Maple
• Invasive: Callery Pear Tree
  Native Alternative: Serviceberry, Fringe Tree, or Black Gum

Contribution to Broader Sustainable Development Goals

This initiative extends beyond SDG 15, contributing to a wider range of global objectives. These actions align with:

1. SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): Enhancing urban and suburban green spaces with native flora improves local resilience, air quality, and the well-being of residents, contributing to Target 11.7 to provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible, green and public spaces.
2. SDG 13 (Climate Action): Planting native trees and shrubs, such as replacing the Norway Maple with the Sugar Maple, strengthens local ecosystems, improves carbon sequestration, and contributes to climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts.

In conclusion, the strategic replacement of invasive plants with native species is a powerful, accessible action that aligns local land management with global sustainability imperatives, fostering biodiversity and building resilient communities.

SDGs Addressed or Connected to the Issues Highlighted in the Article

1. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • The article directly addresses SDG 15, which 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.” The entire focus of the text is on protecting local ecosystems by managing invasive plant species to support native flora and fauna. It highlights that invasive plants are “dangerous invaders in our ecosystems” that are “crowding out the native species on which pollinators depend,” which is a direct threat to terrestrial life and biodiversity.

Specific Targets Identified Based on the Article’s Content

1. Target 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.

   • The article supports this target by advocating for actions to help the “declining pollinator population.” By encouraging the replacement of invasive plants with native ones, the initiative aims to restore the natural habitat required by pollinators and other local wildlife, thereby contributing to halting biodiversity loss at a local level.

2. Target 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.

   • This target is the central theme of the article. The text is a measure designed to reduce the impact of invasive alien species. It explicitly lists numerous invasive plants such as “Japanese honeysuckle,” “Garlic mustard,” and “Callery pear tree” and provides specific native alternatives. This serves as a practical guide for controlling these priority invasive species on private property to protect the local ecosystem.

3. Target 15.9: By 2020, integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning, development processes, poverty reduction strategies and accounts.

   • The article, created by the “YS Habitat Team,” is an example of integrating biodiversity values into local community planning and action. It provides actionable advice for residents to implement “on your property,” demonstrating a grassroots effort to incorporate ecological considerations into local land management and gardening practices.

Indicators Mentioned or Implied in the Article

1. Indicator for Target 15.5: Trends in the population of native species.

   • The article implies this indicator by stating the goal is to “help our declining pollinator population” and to provide a “nutritious food source” for “bluebirds and other bird species.” Progress towards the target could be measured by monitoring the population trends of these specific groups (pollinators and birds) in the local area after the implementation of the suggested planting practices.

2. Indicator for Target 15.8: Adoption of measures to control invasive species.

   • An implied indicator is the rate at which the recommended actions are adopted. Progress can be measured by tracking the number of properties or the total area where invasive species, such as “Amur honeysuckle” or “Butterfly bush,” have been removed and replaced with the suggested native plants like “spicebush” or “Joe Pye weed.”

3. Indicator for Target 15.9: Level of community engagement in biodiversity conservation.

   • The article itself, as a community-led initiative, suggests an indicator related to local engagement. Progress could be measured by the number of residents engaging with the YS Habitat Team, visiting the recommended website, and actively participating in replacing invasive plants with native ones on their properties.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: ysnews.com