Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group - sub group EH and I indicator: recommendations

1. Introduction and background

The Biodiversity PAG are currently working through a four step process to provide recommendations on statutory nature restoration targets within the forthcoming Natural Environment Bill. Thus far, the full group has advised on the policy framework (step 1), provided recommendations on topics upon which targets are to be based (step 2) and recommended indicators that can be used to set targets against (step 3). During the full PAG meeting on indicators, the group could not reach consensus on recommended indicators for the target topic ‘Ecosystem health and integrity’ (EHI). Three different conceptual framings of EHI were put forward with associated indicators by the full PAG:

• Developing/enhancing/adopting current and proposed specific ecosystem health indicators.
• A systems based indicator set to represent integrity and health.
• A meta-indicator of all indicators for target topics on habitats, species and enhancing conditions for nature

A sub-group of the PAG has been established to discuss these three options in more detail and to provide more focused recommendations for indicators for the EHI target topic. This paper outlines the recommendations of the PAG sub-group on EHI indicators.