How MapleGreen Helps Achieve the Goal
To wrap up our blog series on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), let us finish with #15: Life on Land. SDG #15 is on our list of top 5 goals that are material to MapleGreen. The material goals were determined through assessing each goal’s ability to impact our operations and our ability towards achieving the goal.
Without life on land, we would not be able to do our job of offering professional and reliable arborist services. MapleGreen greatly relies on the health of our terrestrial ecosystem, Ontario’s natural and urban forests, their ability to access freshwater and nourishment, and species that interact with those forests on a daily basis to sustain our operations. As a result, it is important to ensure the proper care for life on land through sustainable arborist services.
Why this Goal is Important
The global purpose of SDG #15 is 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”.
Our Current Action That Directly Align to the SDGs’ Targets
There are many targets that we have aligned to that allow us to help protect and restore life on land. These are explored below:
| Targets | MapleGreen Action that Supports the Targets |
| #15.1: Conserve and restore terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems
|
❏ Providing tree maintenance services for forests within local conservation areas
❏ Providing stump grinding services to create space for new trees to be planted to restore the tree population ❏ Generate and spread mulch around trees to retain moisture and support growth |
| #15.2: End deforestation and restore degraded forests | ❏ Completing tree preservation services including pruning and cabling of trees to support tree health and longevity in urban and peri-urban forested areas |
| #15.5: Protect biodiversity and natural habitats | ❏ Maintaining the health of native trees, century trees, and at risk trees species |
| #15.8: Prevent invasive alien species on land and in water ecosystems | ❏ Safely destroying invasive and infected trees so as to not spread to other areas, specifically box elder and emerald ash borer
❏ Fertilizing and treating lightly infected trees, sterilizing and pruning infected branches, and removing and disposing of fully infected trees |
Future Action
If your company is working to align to SDG #15, consider the actions below:
- Provide support to NGOs and companies that specialize in protecting at risk, endangered, and threatened species
- Participate in local parks and forest cleanups – this could involve collecting trash found or locating invasive species and notifying authorities
- Avoid the use of pesticides to support soil’s natural qualities
- Reduce paper usage by going digital – this will prevent trees from being turned into paper products
Interesting Resources & Company Examples
- Species at Risk in Ontario: https://www.ontario.ca/page/species-risk-ontario#section-8
- Life on Land: https://www.globalgoals.org/15-life-on-land
- Danone’s Commitment to SDG #15: https://www.danone.com/impact/un-sustainable-developement-goals/sdg15-life-on-land.html
- Toronto’s Tree Planting Guide: https://www.toronto.ca/data/parks/pdf/trees/street-tree-brochure.pdf
MapleGreen is committed to preserving life on land and protecting forests by removing diseased trees and invasive species so large growing, native species can thrive. Give us a call today for your desired property management services.