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”
Within SDG #15 are 12 targets, of which we here focus on Target 15.c:
Enhance global support for efforts to combat poaching and trafficking of protected species, including by increasing the capacity of local communities to pursue sustainable livelihood opportunities
Target 15.c has one indicator:
Indicator 15.c.1: Proportion of traded wildlife that was poached or illicitly trafficked
This target recalls Target #15.7 focused on the illegal wildlife trade. Again, the centrality of the CITES treaty governs the actions of countries as it relates to such practices. Despite the articulation of an indicator, as of 2024, there’s still insufficient data to give us a sense of whether the world is on track for this target.