Celebrating Life on Land and International Women’s Day

A flourishing life on land is the foundation for our life on this planet. Healthy landscapes provide food and other goods, wildlife habitat, and recreational opportunities. Healthy landscapes also provide ecosystem services necessary to environmental and human health and well-being. They help regulate water flow, control erosion and reduce flood risks. They maintain agricultural productivity and capture carbon.

Promoting sustainable use of our land and natural resources then is not just a cause, it’s the key to our survival, and not just here in Iowa but across the world. That is why the United States played a foundational role in the creation of 17 Global Sustainable Development Goals – of which Life on Land is Goal 15 – adopted by all United Nations member states in 2015. Since their adoption the SDGs are becoming a unifying rallying cry in Iowa and across states and sectors of American society to solve universal and interrelated problems like ecological sustainability, hunger, poverty, and inequality by 2030.

Each year the Johnson County Chapter of the Iowa United Nations Association celebrates one of the SDGs on International Women’s Day and honors local and U.N. organizations advancing the selected SDG. This year on March 8 Goal 15 – Life on Land will be celebrated. Field to Family, Grow Johnson County, and the Great Plains Action Society will be honored for their commitment and work advancing SDG 15. Proceeds will benefit these groups and the U.N. World Food Program. Entertainment will be provided by Folklorica, a local dance troupe sponsored by Open Heartland and by Andrew Rene, University of Iowa vocalist, who is soon to release a CD of lesser known African American songs.

This year the event will be both in person and live-streamed so people from across Iowa can attend. The event is a great opportunity to learn more about the SDGs and how people in Iowa are implementing them, and what we ll can do to ensure that the benefits of land-based ecosystems, including sustainable livelihoods, will be enjoyed for generations to come. For tickets, visit https://N1KD23.eventbrite.com

Jane Shuttleworth of Iowa City is a board member for the Iowa United Nations Association.