Life on Land- SDG Goal #15 by Scarlett Guerra

Life on Land #15

s1744223 — 2025-08-19 14:00:17 UTC

Goal #15 mainly focuses on promoting change throughout our ecosystem by protecting, restoring, and sustainably managing forests. This goal stands out to me because I think biodiversity loss including pollution and climate change is a huge problem especially since it leads to declines in plant and animal species.

Conservation of Mountain Ecosystems

s1744223 — 2025-08-20 01:14:38 UTC

One fact from the SDG website that caught my attention was how by 2030, they are trying to ensure the conservation of mountain ecosystems. I never really thought of specifically mountain ecosystems that needed work.

Why is Life on Land Important?

s1744223 — 2025-08-20 01:51:28 UTC

Life on Land is important because it is crucial for resources like clean air, water, food, etc. While it is important for human life, it is also key for providing economic benefits along with cultural benefits. This provides support for the well-being of the population!

s1744223 — 2025-08-20 23:00:21 UTC

I started to think deeper into problems that affect all around the world surrounding Life on Land like climate change, deforestation, pollution, etc.

Climate Change Definition

s1744223 — 2025-08-20 23:47:40 UTC

According to the United Nations, climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. This includes burning fossil fuels and cutting down forests which release carbon dioxide. Climate change has a greater impact on the world than most people realize.

Pollution Contributor

s1744223 — 2025-08-21 00:06:02 UTC

Pollution also goes hand in hand with climate change since it is a huge contributor. The main categories of pollution include air pollution, trash pollution, water pollution, soil pollution, etc. While all forms of pollution affect the world, I think plastic and trash pollution are definitely among the most significant problems.

Most Affected by Trash Pollution

s1744223 — 2025-08-21 00:09:02 UTC

This is when I started to wonder where in the world was the most impacted by specifically trash pollution. From my research, I found that Nigeria created about 3.5 million tons of plastic each year. It is definitely a major difference compared to other places around the world.

Plastic Waste- TED Talk

s1744223 — 2025-08-21 02:11:35 UTC

To further my understanding of plastic waste, I decided to watch a TED talk which gave me insight on single use plastics and how they later break down into micro. I enjoyed learning more about the process of plastics getting broken down and how in depth it was.

Why is there so much trash pollution?

s1744223 — 2025-08-21 13:24:08 UTC

A few reasons trash pollution is such a huge problem is because of poor management, human activities, and lack of process to proper waste management. Unfortunately, these can all contribute to excessive waste in landfills and can also result in long-term environmental harm.

Focusing First on West Africa

s1744223 — 2025-08-21 14:16:07 UTC

There are many areas with trash pollution, but I'd like to focus more on West Africa.

Trash Pollution in West Africa

s1744223 — 2025-08-21 20:48:57 UTC

From this article I learned that almost 80% of plastic waste is poorly managed in West Africa's coastal zones. Cost of plastic pollution is estimated between $10,000 and

$33,000 per tons. This is a major problem because when plastic waste is burnt in fields, it is difficult for plants to grow and for seeds to germinate. It can also affect wildlife which can cause them to die.

Trash Pollution in Southeast Asia

s1744223 — 2025-08-21 21:28:24 UTC

I learned that only a small percentage of landfills in Southeast Asia are sanitary landfills which provide low-cost management. Incineration is about 80-102 USD per ton and sanitary landfills are about 10-45 USD per ton. The current recycling rate is below 50% because of poor infrastructure.

Trash Pollution in Latin America

s1744223 — 2025-08-22 02:23:41 UTC

From this article, I learned that Latin America generates a total of 541,000 tons of waste daily. The problem isn't the amount of waste but how it's being managed. By teaming up with corporations, they are able to ensure proper and efficient disposal.

Trash Pollution in Europe

s1744223 — 2025-08-22 03:37:52 UTC

This article talks about how Europe is improving their ways of recycling more and landfilling less. It also talks about how products that end up in recycling bins need to be sorted out separately. The European Economic Area (EEA) has published data and analysis on waste prevention efforts and corporations.

Trash Pollution in Nigeria

s1744223 — 2025-08-22 03:46:13 UTC

Nigeria is set to ban single-use plastics in government offices which is a major issue for the country. Within the next five years of this policy, they expect people to find alternatives.

Wecyclers in Nigeria

s1744223 — 2025-08-23 12:44:37 UTC

The Lagos Waste Management Authority has partnered with many organizations to find new ways to collect waste. "Wecyclers" encourage people in low-income communities to properly recycle. After daily rounds, they sort and bag the trash.

https://www.tea-after-twelve.com/all-issues/issue-01/issue-01-overview/chapter2/lost-in-waste/

The Woman Behind Wecyclers

s1744223 — 2025-08-23 13:04:33 UTC

Founder Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola talks about her experience of leaving America to help fight against plastic waste. This made me think of how determined she was to fight for a change far from her home. I believe powerful efforts like this help change the world!

Recycling in Nigeria

s1744223 — 2025-08-23 13:07:06 UTC

I think I'm starting to become more interested in the organizations that help recycling and Trash Pollution in Nigeria. I want to focus on recycling efforts that help fight waste problems.

Pros and Cons of Wecyclers

s1744223 — 2025-08-23 13:20:25 UTC

Pros:

-locally manufactured cargo bikes

-reward-based system

-helps clear drainage channels

Cons:

-social impact over profit

-roads causing operational challenges

-no other organizations working with them

Topic Proposal

s1744223 — 2025-08-23 13:23:56 UTC

I think I want to research RECYCLING which must be addressed to reach SDG Goal #15. I will focus on WEST AFRICA and TRASH POLLUTION SOLUTIONS. I want to research this because I think it's interesting to find out ways people around the world are helping their communities.

Research Question #1

s1744223 — 2025-08-26 19:29:38 UTC

What are the key factors contributing to the increase of plastic pollution in Nigeria?

Research Question #2

s1744223 — 2025-08-26 19:31:29 UTC

What are the possible effects and problems that can arise from excessive collecting of plastic in Nigeria even with the help of Wecyclers?

ScienceDaily Article

s1744223 — 2025-09-03 22:59:27 UTC

This article highlights that by not taking care of the planet, it harms health, the economy, and the environment. One thing that caught my attention were the details about harmful chemicals being in plastics and their potential threat to human health.