SDG 15 Life on land

SDG 15 is about the protection, restoration and sustainable management of all forms of life on land. Natural environments and healthy ecosystems are indispensable for well-being and life on earth. Ecosystems and biodiversity are under pressure because of population growth, land use intensification, pollution and climate change.

• The amount of available space per person is decreasing. The pressure on the available space is increasing as a result of population growth.
• Phosphorus and nitrogen surpluses are relatively high compared to other EU countries.
• Although land biodiversity is declining, the proportion of species under threat is falling.

Dashboard and indicators

Colour codes and notes to the dashboards in the Monitor of Well-being

Healthy ecosystems are fundamental to various processes that have a major impact on well-being, including the availability of clean water and air, the presence of insects for pollination, and opportunities for leisure, recreation and education. Moreover, nature has an inherent value that contributes to the well-being of both current and future generations and is, at the same time, a critical factor. Once ecosystems are destroyed, the damage may prove irreparable.

Resources and opportunities refers to how much natural land there is, and to the resources available for its conservation, restoration and protection. In 2023, the Netherlands led the EU in environmental spending, allocating 1.5 percent of its GDP to protection efforts. Total environmental expenditure (environmental costs and investment by governments and businesses) is also relatively high, at 2.2 per cent of GDP in 2024.

The Dutch population continues to grow, leading to a steady decline in the available area per person. In 2024, this figure fell to 2,315 square metres per inhabitant, which includes both land and water. The Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in Europe. Within the EU, only Malta’s population has less land and water available per person.

Use refers to the protection and use of natural spaces and their ecosystems, as well as the pressure that human activities place on the natural environment. The Netherlands Nature Network (NNN) includes both existing and planned land nature reserves in the Netherlands. The NNN is growing in size: in 2023, it covered 20.9 percent of the total land area. National and provincial governments have agreed to establish at least 80,000 hectares of new nature in the period from 2011 to the end of 2027. By 2023, 50,480 hectares have been realised, representing 63 percent of the target land area.

The build-up of excess phosphorus and nitrogen, mainly caused by agriculture, has a detrimental impact on the quality of surface water and the quality of ecosystems such as heathland, forests and dunes. The phosphorus surplus has fallen sharply this century. In recent years, it has stabilised around 4 kilograms per hectare of arable land. The nitrogen surplus is falling: 2023 and 2024 recorded the lowest figures since measurements began in 2000. Phosphorus and nitrogen surplus data are available for just over half of the 27 EU countries. In 2019, the Netherlands had by far the highest nitrogen surplus of all its peers, ranking last on this indicator by some distance. The surplus in the Netherlands (166 kilograms per hectare) was more than twice as high as the surplus in the country in second-to-last place (the Czech Republic, with 76 kilograms per hectare).

Outcomes refers to the quality of ecosystems and biodiversity. The presence of excess nitrogen in the soil can lead to the loss of rare flora and fauna. In this context, nitrogen refers to chemical compounds of nitrogen that can be harmful to both human health and the environment. Nitrogen oxides are mainly released into the air by exhaust gases from traffic and industrial emissions. Ammonia is primarily produced by livestock animals. The risk of vulnerable flora disappearing increases when the amount of nitrogen deposited exceeds the critical load value. Habitats that require low-nutrient conditions are especially sensitive to environmental pressure from nitrogen deposition.

The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) calculates the total area of natural land where nitrogen deposition exceeds critical load values. Despite a downward trend, more than 70 percent of natural land was still affected by excess nitrogen in 2023.

Biodiversity is under pressure, as evidenced by the declining populations of farmland birds. In the Netherlands, 27 species of meadow, field and farmyard birds are monitored. The downward trend for this indicator points to a significant deterioration in living conditions for these species. While goose populations are flourishing, these birds are not viewed as typical farmland birds, as they are found in many other habitats too. The populations or distribution (depending on the species) of Dutch land fauna are falling as well. This is shown by data on 203 native species of mammals, breeding birds, reptiles and butterflies characteristic of forests, heathland, dunes and extensively managed grasslands. The proportion of animal species that are not under threat is gradually increasing (Red List Indicator). In 2024, 61 percent were not at risk.

Subjective assessment refers to people’s perception of the quality of natural space and their concerns about pollution and the disappearance of species. In 2024, 17.4 percent of the population aged 16 and over were negatively affected by waste, pollution or other environmental problems, up from 14.5 percent the year before. This was the highest percentage since measurements began in 2005.