Guidelines for developing national strategies to use biodiversity monitoring as an environmental policy toolfor the countries of Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia, as well as interested South-Eastern European countries

Tobias Garstecki, consultant

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Key questions addressed in the draft guidelines

• How does biodiversity monitoring differ from other types of environmental monitoring?

• How can the effectiveness of biodiversity monitoring as an environmental policy tool be maximized?

• How to design and implement a national biodiversity monitoring system that works well in practice?

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How does biodiversity monitoring differ? (1)

• Biodiversity: the totality of genes, species and ecosystems of a region.

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How does biodiversity monitoring differ? (2)Air quality monitoring Biodiversity monitoring

Distribution of the environmental good

Relatively homogeneous Highly heterogeneous, multiple levels

Pressures Simple (emissions of pollutants)

Diverse (resource overuse, habitat loss, emissions)

Key monitoring approaches

Measurement (concentrations and emissions)

Observation/measurement and evaluation of biodiversity status and pressures

Indicator sets DPSIR, relatively homogeneous

DPSIR, highly heterogeneous

Target setting Clear technical guidance Subject to choice, tradeoffs Monitoring expertise Concentrated Dispersed

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Biodiversity monitoring as an environmental policy tool (1)

• should include responses (II A)

DRIVING FORCESHuman influences and natural conditions

PRESSURESAnthropogenic and natural stresses on the environment

STATEState or condition of the environment

RESPONSESResponses by government and society

IMPACTSBiological, economic and social effects of environmental change

• ... and pressures related to natural resource use (II C), infrastructure

• should be relevant to policy objectives

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Biodiversity monitoring as an environmental policy tool (2)• Should include monitoring of ecosystem services (II D), because..

• ecosystem services are the link between biodiversity on the one hand and society, the economy and human culture on the other hand

• Indicators are available of can be developed for most ecosystem services, such as

– provisioning services, e.g. food provision– regulating services, e.g. hydrological regulation– cultural and amenity services, e.g. recreation –

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Biodiversity monitoring as an environmental policy tool (3) – use of biodiversity monitoring data (II H)• Permitting

– e.g. EIA, natural resources use

• Prioritization of actions and investments– e.g. strategic planning and policy development

• Communication, education and public awareness raising– e.g. interagency communication, mainstreaming

• Use by the business sector• Analysis and reporting

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Design of national biodiversity monitoring systems (1) – conceptual frameworks (III A)

• Bring order into diversity of indicators• Rational, systematic way of choosing/using indicators• Use/adaptation of available generic indicators associated with conceptual frameworks

RESPONSES

BENEFITS

PRESSURES AND CAUSES

STATE

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Design of national biodiversity monitoring systems (2) – indicator sets and protocols (III D)• Develop around conceptual framework• Use and adapt indicator protocols from generic indicator sets

– e.g. UNECE Joint Task Force on Environmental Indicators• Build protocols on sound science and international best practice

– e.g. IUCN Red List methodology for species• Outsource protocol development/adaptation to wide range of national experts

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Design of national biodiversity monitoring systems (3) – institutional setup (III F, IV)• Central competent authority (usually MoE)

– planning/coordination, resourcing of system– collection, processing, publication etc. of data– lead and coordination of policy response

• Additional institutions (GOs, NGOs, Academia)– e.g. organized through inter-institutional working group (GOs, NGO, Academia)– General advice, outsourcing of indicators, input regarding policy responses, use in project design– Existing similar setups: UK, Georgia

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Summary (1)• How does biodiversity monitoring differ from other types of environmental monitoring?

– Multiple levels, complex distribution of biodiversity, pressures and benefits– Important consequences for monitoring design

• How to maximize effectiveness of BDM as policy tool?– include (policy) objectives/responses and pressures (e.g. those related to natural resources use)– monitoring of ecosystem services– wide use of monitoring data

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Summary (2)• How to design and implement a national biodiversity monitoring system that works well in practice?

– Use of conceptual frameworks (e.g. DPSIR) and balance of indicators on all key elements (pressures, state, responses)– Scientific basis and international best practice– Adaptation of generic indicator sets (e.g. UNECE)– Appropriate institutional setup involving all relevant experts

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Thank you very much!