Biodiversity Programme Advisory Group - target indicator: recommendations

Annex 2

Potential indicators for target topics identified by PAG

Letters and numbers in parentheses refer to agreed Global Biodiversity Framework Headline Indicators. Scotland will have to collate data for all Global Biodiversity Framework Headline Indicators as part of UK reporting and potentially on its own behalf. The first column also identifies whether the indicator relates to marine or terrestrial (M or T) environments (or both), or for a small number indicates (?) where this has not been determined. This list is based on work undertaken by NatureScot, with thanks to David O’Brien, Katherine Leys and Ben Ross.

Ecosystem Red list (A.1)

• Link: IUCN Red List of Ecosystems | Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M/T)
• Includes: Extent and condition of ecosystems following IUCN typology, which can map to EUNIS habitats
• Issues: Ecosystem Red list covers all habitats, is supported by CBD and IUCN
• Used in Scotland: Yes
• International indicator: Yes
• Development: Pilot underway for 3 habitats in Scotland

Coverage of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures (3.1)

• Link: JNCC - Extent and condition of protected areas | Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M/T)
• Includes: Extent of protected areas, including OECM following IUCN typology
• Issues: GBF indicator does not include condition. Data already collected as part of Scottish and UK reporting
• Used in Scotland: Yes
• International indicator: Yes

Delivering Healthy Ecosystems

• Link: NatureScot - Official Statistics for protected sites (M/T)
• Includes: Extent and condition of protected areas
• Issues: Designed to be effective outside protected areas. Reporting on condition of protected areas is a legal obligation. Aims to be more efficient and outcome-focused
• Development: Scheduled for delivery Aug 2024

Services provided by ecosystems (B.1)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework | CICES - European Environment Agency (?)
• Includes: Likely to include Global climate regulation, Pollination, Crop provisioning, Wood provisioning, Air filtration, Nature-based tourism
• Issues: Method not yet available. Potential to incorporate other services in CICES
• Development: In development with CBD timeline unclear

Soil sealing (inverse) (T)

• Link: NatureScot - Scotland's Indicators - Soil Sealing
• Includes: Area of land covered by impermeable covering by Local Authority
• Issues: No ecosystem breakdown. No marine equivalent
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Biodiversity Intactness Index (T)

• Link: Natural History Museum - Biodiversity Intactness Index
• Includes: Terrestrial habitat types based on projected average abundance of native species compared to pre-human impact
• Issues: Shows 10% increase in UK biodiversity since 1970, variance with other data, high uncertainty margins
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Extent of natural ecosystems (A.2)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M/T)
• Issues: Does not assess condition
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Monitoring Effectiveness of Protected and Conserved Areas (MEPCA)

• Link: JNCC - Management Effectiveness of Protected and Conserved Areas (MEPCA) Indicator (M/T)
• Includes: Based on OSPAR four-question approach
• Issues: Simple indicator, can apply to wider landscapes
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Connectivity Ecosystems Health Indicator

• Link: NatureScot - Habitat Connectivity Index (T)
• Includes: Uses Ordnance Survey data to calculate extent and connectivity of habitats
• Issues: Only covers four terrestrial EUNIS habitat types. Does not assess condition.
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Habitats Directive (Article 17) reporting

• Link: JNCC - Article 17 Habitats Directive Report 2019 (T)
• Includes: Conservation status of habitats and species listed in Annexes I, II, IV, and V of the Directive.
• Issues: Includes condition of all land but skewed towards protected areas
• Used in Scotland: Yes

SLAM Map

• Link: Space Intelligence - Scotland National Land Cover Map (T)
• Includes: Uses satellite imagery to calculate extent of EUNIS level 2 habitats
• Issues: More detailed than previous approaches. Does not include condition.
• May be expensive
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Species Red List Index (A3)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M/T)
• Includes: Expert assessment of species range, population size, habitat, threats, conservation actions
• Issues: Includes all species categories. Coverage and frequency of updates vary
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Proportion of populations within species with effective population size > 500 (A.4)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M/T)
• Includes: Measures rate of loss of genetic diversity
• Issues: Included in updated scorecard
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Scorecard of Genetic Diversity

• Link: NatureScot - Scotland’s Biodiversity Progress to 2020 Aichi Targets: Conserving Genetic Diversity – Development of a national approach for addressing Aichi Biodiversity Target 13 that includes wild species (M/T)
• Includes: Assessment of threats and conservation measures for genetic diversity
• Issues: Developed in Scotland, marine scorecard scheduled for 2024
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Marine & Terrestrial Species Indicators

• Link: NatureScot - Official Statistics - Marine and Terrestrial Species Indicators: Experimental Statistic (M/T)
• Includes: Occurrence trends for terrestrial taxa and abundance trends for marine taxa
• Issues: Data gaps for invertebrates and marine taxa
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Average share of built-up area of cities that is green/blue space (12.1)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M/T)
• Includes: Estimation of population access to open public spaces
• Issues: Links to SDG 11.7.1
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Proportion of total adult population with secure tenure rights to land

• Link: Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - Target 22 (M/T)
• Includes: People with legally recognized documentation and perceived security of land rights
• Issues: Target 22 aims for inclusive representation and rights-based approaches
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Global Biodiversity impacts of Scottish economic activity

• Link: JNCC - Global biodiversity impacts of UK economic activity / sustainable consumption (M/T)
• Includes: Global environmental impacts of UK consumption of commodities
• Issues: Currently focuses on agriculture, expanding to other sectors
• International indicator: Yes

Natural Capital Asset Index

• Link: Scottish Government - National Performance Framework (T)
• Includes: Ecosystem services by EUNIS habitat
• Issues: Methods being updated
• Used in Scotland: Yes

Access to blue and green space

• Link: Scottish Government - National Performance Framework (T)
• Includes: Proportion of adults who live within a 5-minute walk of their local green or blue space
• Issues: National Performance Indicator
• Already used: Yes

Visits to the outdoors

• Link: Scottish Government - National Performance Framework (?)
• Includes: Adults (%) estimated to have visited the outdoors at least once a week. Broken down by age, gender, disability, ethnicity, religion, socio-economic status, and urban/rural classification
• Issues: National Performance Indicator
• Already used: Yes

International public funding, including official development assistance (ODA) for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems (D.1)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework | JNCC - Expenditure on UK and international biodiversity (M/T)
• Includes: Gross disbursements (ODA) from all donors for biodiversity. In constant prices for commitments undertaken by donors. Includes type of activities (e.g., technical assistance, scholarships)
• Issues: International funding not within NEB scope
• Already used: No

Domestic public funding on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and Ecosystems (D.2)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework | JNCC - Expenditure on UK and international biodiversity (M/T)
• Includes: Real-term public sector spending on biodiversity in the UK
• Issues: Data supplied by SG to JNCC annually; CBD may modify indicator by COP 16
• Already used: Yes

Private funding (domestic/international) on conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems (D.3)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (?)
• Includes: Methodology not yet defined by CBD. No timescale
• Already used: Yes

Benefits from sustainable use of wild species (9.1)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M/T)
• Includes: Gross tonnes of wildlife biomass provisioning services (plants, animals incl. fish), pollination services, nursery populations, habitat maintenance
• Issues: Method under development; CBD timeline unclear
• Already used: Yes

Area under restoration (2.2)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M/T?)
• Includes: Not yet defined by CBD
• Issues: Metrics being developed for European Nature Restoration Law
• Already used: Yes

Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels (5.1)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M)
• Includes: Percentage of fish stocks fished sustainably
• Issues: National Performance Indicator
• Already used: Yes

Rate of invasive alien species establishment (6.1)

• Link: Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework - Target 6 (M/T)
• Includes: Methodology not yet defined by CBD. No timescale
• Issues: May include rate of establishment, spread, and impact
• Already used: Yes

Index of coastal eutrophication potential (7.1)

• Link: Marine Scotland - Nutrient inputs in water | Marine Scotland - Chlorophyll concentration | Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M)
• Includes: Based on loads and ratios of nitrogen, phosphorus, and silica delivered by rivers to coastal waters and chlorophyll levels
• Issues: Measured as part of OSPAR reporting
• Already used: Yes

Long-term river water quality

• Link: SEPA - Long-term river water quality indicator (T)
• Includes: Indicator of river water quality based on network of sites covering 253 water bodies. Based on five parameters sensitive to organic pollution, nutrients, and toxic substances; provides measure of species diversity
• Issues: Does not cover all water bodies (~10%)
• Already used: Yes

Pesticide environment concentration (7.2)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (T)
• Includes: Sum of active ingredients divided by cropland area
• Issues: Does not account for differences in environmental impact between pesticides
• Already used: Yes

Clean seas

• Link: Scottish Government - National Performance Framework (M)
• Includes: Proportion of contaminant assessments in Scottish marine waters showing concentrations unlikely to harm marine organisms
• Issues: National Performance Indicator
• Already used: Yes

Percentage of land and sea area covered by biodiversity-inclusive spatial plans (1.1)

• Link: Indicators for the Kunming – Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (M/T)
• Includes: Methodology not yet defined by CBD. No timescale
• Issues: Arguably all of Scotland covered by spatial plans
• Already used: Yes

Positive incentives in place to promote biodiversity conservation and sustainable use (18.1)

• Link: Not provided
• Includes: Number of positive incentives (by type)
• Issues: Tracks number of incentives, not benefit; procedural rather than outcome-based
• Already used: Yes

Soil erosion and nutrient loss (Potential joint indicator)

• Link: Soil erosion | Scotland's soils (environment.gov.scot) and Nitrogen Balance Sheet (www.gov.scot)
• Includes: Soil erosion monitoring and nitrogen flow tracking
• Issues: Further work required
• Already used: Yes