The 7th set of the Addis Agenda commitments address Protecting Ecosystems, including both terrestrial and marine ecosystems. The commitments range from the sustainable use of natural resources to protecting biodiversity for future generations. The first commitment reads:

Commits to coherent policy, financing, trade and technology frameworks to protect, manage and restore our ecosystems, including marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and to promote their sustainable use, build resilience, reduce pollution and combat climate change, desertification and land degradation.

Eight more detailed commitments drill down into priorities for biodiversity, desertification, forest management; ocean conservation, climate change, artisanal fisheries, marine technology, and corporate sustainability. This Briefing note addresses issues pertaining to forest, desertification/land degradation, biodiversity and marine ecosystems. The crosscutting commitments concerning climate change and corporate sustainability are discussed elsewhere (i.e., Section II.C on climate finance, and chapter II.B on corporate sustainability, respectively).