biodiversity indicators: measuring progress on national ...€¦ · biodiversity = biological...

Biodiversity indicators:

measuring progress on national and international commitments

Dr. Tomás Murray

Talk Outline

1. What is biodiversity and a biodiversity indicator?

2. Policy context and timeline

3. Data flow and process

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

5. Future directions

Talk Outline

1. What is biodiversity and a biodiversity indicator?

2. Policy context and timeline

3. Data flow and process

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

5. Future directions

1. What is biodiversity and a biodiversity indicator?

Biodiversity = Biological diversity = variety of life found on earth across a range of biological levels

Genetic diversity• variation within an individual, across individuals within a

population and across populations within a species

Species diversity (31,448 species)

• variation in the richness and abundance of species within a given area or community of species, across areas or communities

Ecosystem diversity (117 terrestrial and freshwater habitats, 23 seabed habitats)

• Variation in the number of ecosystem types within a given area and across areas

1. What is biodiversity and a biodiversity indicator?

Biodiversity indicator = an indicator that reflects the current state and/or change in state of data that relate to biodiversity

Direct measures• Annual change in bird/butterfly/bumblebee populations

• Change in area of extent of species/habitats

Indirect measures• Number of biodiversity-related policies implemented

• Number of Irish-based searches for biodiversity-related keywords using major search engines

Talk Outline

1. What is biodiversity and a biodiversity indicator?

2. Policy context and timeline

3. Data flow and process

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

5. Future directions

Oct 2010 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020- Plan also contains a series of 20 targets, Aichi Biodiversity Targets- Countries then must update and align their own Strategic Plans

2. Policy context and timeline

Strategic Goal A: Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society

Strategic Goal B: Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use

Strategic Goal C: To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity

Strategic Goal D: Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystem services

Strategic Goal E: Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building

Aichi 2020 Biodiversity Targets

https://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/

Oct 2010 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020- Plan also contains a series of 20 targets, Aichi Biodiversity Targets- Countries then must update and align their own Strategic Plans

2. Policy context and timeline

2. Policy context and timeline

Oct 2010 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020- Plan also contains a series of 20 targets, Aichi Biodiversity Targets- Countries then must update and align their own Strategic Plans

May 2011 EU Commission adopts “EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020”- 6 main targets, 20 actions

Nov 2011 Ireland launches “Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016”- 7 objectives, 18 targets, 103 actions- Action 3.4

2. Policy context and timeline

Oct 2010 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) - Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020- Plan also contains a series of 20 targets, Aichi Biodiversity Targets- Countries then must update and align their own Strategic Plans

May 2011 EU Commission adopts “EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2020”- 6 main targets, 20 actions

Nov 2011 Ireland launches “Actions for Biodiversity 2011-2016”- 7 objectives, 18 targets, 103 actions

Nov 2012 European Environmental Agency launches the Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators (SEBI)- 26 EU-level indicators

Sep 2013 National Parks and Wildlife Service commissioned Tentera to develop an indicator framework for Ireland- 8 focal areas, 33 headline indicators, 85 subindicators

2. Policy context and timeline

Q4 2013 National Biodiversity Data Centre continues to develop framework- Indicative list of 87 indicators released for consultation to Biodiversity

Working Group, feedback received

Q1+Q2 2014 National Biodiversity Data Centre development of website- Barry O’Neill (IT Manager), Dave Manser (Vitamin Studio)- Continued collation, analysis and reporting of indicators

Q3+Q4 2014 National Biodiversity Data Centre/National Parks and Wildlife Service- 28 indicators completed and reviewed

Q1+Q2 2015 Biodiversity Working Group- Adopted framework for assessing trends in biodiversity- Fixed until end of the National Biodiversity Action Plan 2016, then revise- 44 indicators completed and reviewed - Agreed consultation process

Q3+Q4 2015 National Biodiversity Data Centre/National Parks and Wildlife Service- Consultation process on indicator content and interpretation concluded- Launch of website in Q4 2015

Talk Outline

1. What is biodiversity and a biodiversity indicator?

2. Policy context and timeline

3. Data flow and process

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

5. Future directions

Cross-sectoral Data Providers(44 indicators = 76 people, 15 organisations)

2 week consultation

Biannual summary of changes

Raw data

3. Data flow and process

Biodiversity Working Group

Completed indicator

Periodic revision of indicators

Inform national biodiversity policy

Talk Outline

1. What is biodiversity and a biodiversity indicator?

2. Policy context and timeline

3. Data flow and process

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

5. Future directions

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

8 Focal Areas

A. Awareness of biodiversity

B. Status of biodiversity

C. Threats to biodiversity

D. Measures that safeguard biodiversity

E. Measures that mainstream biodiversity

F. Benefits derived from biodiversity and ecosystem services

G. Impacts on biodiversity outside of Ireland

H. Knowledge of Irish biodiversity

Cross-walked with CBD Aichi Targets, EU Biodiversity Strategy and Ireland’s Actions for Biodiversity

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

8 Focal Areas

33 Headline Indicators

A. Awareness of biodiversityA.1. Number of volunteers

A.2. Trends in the knowledge of biodiversity

A.3. Numbers in biodiversity-related educational programmes

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

8 Focal Areas33 Headline Indicators

87 Indicators

A. Awareness of biodiversityA.1. Number of volunteersA.2. Trends in the knowledge of biodiversityA.3. Numbers in biodiversity-related educational programmes

A.3.i. Number of entries in Biological & Ecological Category of the Young Scientists competition

A.3.ii. Number of school & community users/visitors to the NPWS Education Centres

A.3.iii. Number of school & community users/visitors to LIFE projects

A.3.iv. Number of schools achieving the 'biodiversity flag' in the Green-Schools programme

A.3.v. Number of third level courses which include biodiversity

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

Interpretation of trends

Current = Most recent reporting period

Short-term = 5 year trend

Long-term = 10 year

Positive

Intermediate

Negative

Unknown

Talk Outline

1. What is biodiversity and a biodiversity indicator?

2. Policy context and timeline

3. Data flow and process

4. National Biodiversity Indicators

5. Future directions

5. Future directions

• Revision of current suite of indicators in 2016

• Marine Strategy Framework Directive –Good Environmental Status Indicators

• Remote sensed biodiversity metrics (GEO BON)

Skidmore et al. 2015 Science

Thank you!

Any questions?www.biodiversityireland.ie

www.naturalcapitalireland.ie