1. Developing the UK Biodiversity Indicators James Williams Indicators & Reporting Manager, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Monkstone House, City Road, Peterborough, PE1 1JY. United Kingdom. James.Williams@jncc.gov.uk +44 (0)1733 86 68 68 www.jncc.gov.uk/biyp June 2013

2. Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 Framework for all Conventions and stakeholders. Vision: Living in harmony with nature. By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people.” Mission Take effective and urgent action to halt the loss of biodiversity in order to ensure that by 2020 ecosystems are resilient and continue to provide essential services, thereby securing the planet’s variety of life, and contributing to human well-being, and poverty eradication 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets under 5 Strategic Goals http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/

3. Strategic Plan Goals & Targets A mainstreaming Targets on: awareness, values/accounting, incentives, mainstreaming sustainable use Bpressures Targets on: habitat loss, fisheries, sustainable land use, pollution, invasive aliens, climate change impacts Csafeguarding Targets on: protected areas, threatened species, domesticated species and wild relatives D benefits Targets on: ecosystem services, restoration, access to genetic resources E knowledge and capacity Targets on: NBSAPs, local communities, science base, resources http://www.cbd.int/sp/targets/

4. UK indicators post-2010 2010/11: UK biodiversity indicators reviewed –gap analysis & data quality check –all of the indicators can be re-used, albeit with some requiring modification –some new indicators will need to be developed to fill gaps 2012: new framework implemented –interim set of 24 indicators (35 measures) published May 2012published –assigned existing indicators to specific goals and targets –some may be relevant to multiple targets / goals –work begun to adjust the UK biodiversity indicator suite, and to create new indicators to fill the gaps identified in the review

5. The Strategic Plan and the UK biodiversity indicators Each indicator is assigned to a Strategic Goal –e.g. indicators with the prefix ‘A’ are considered to be of most direct relevance to Goal A. Each indicator is mapped against target(s) as ‘primary indicator(s)’, or as ‘other relevant indicator(s)’. –e.g. Target 4 is represented by 3 ‘primary indicators’ (A3, A4, B3), and 3 ‘other relevant indicators’ (B1, B2, D1) –‘Primary indicators’ are most closely linked to a target –‘Other relevant indicators’ have less strong links but still relevant Indicators may also be of relevance to targets within other goals –e.g. Indicator E2 is a ‘primary indicator’ for Target 20 in Goal E, but is also an ‘other relevant indicator’ for Targets 2 and 3 in Goal A.

6. Strategic Goal A mainstreaming A2: Conservation volunteering Under development A1: Awareness, understanding & support A3: Value of biodiversity integrated into decision making A4: Global impact Targets on: awareness, values/accounting, incentives, mainstreaming sustainable use

7. Strategic Goal B pressures B1b: Sustainable forestry B2 Sustainable fisheries Under development B3: Integration of biodiversity into business activity B4: Climate change adaptation B7: Water quality B4: Spring Index B5a: Air pollution B6: Invasive species B5b: Marine pollution B1a:Agri-environment Schemes Targets on: habitat loss, fisheries, sustainable land use, pollution, invasive aliens, climate change

8. Strategic Goal C safeguarding Under development C2: Habitat connectivity C3: Threatened habitats C4: Threatened species C9: Plant genetic resources C1: Protected sites C6: Butterflies C5: Birds C7: Plants C8: Bats C9: Animal genetic resources Targets on: protected areas, threatened species, domesticated species and wild relatives

9. Strategic Goal D benefits Under development D2: Ecosystem Services D1: Marine fish size classes Targets on: ecosystem services, restoration, access to genetic resources

10. Strategic Goal E knowledge and capacity Under development E1: Biodiversity data for decision making E2a: Expenditure on UK biodiversity E2b: Expenditure on international biodiversity Targets on: NBSAPs, local communities, science base, resources

11. Mapping the UK biodiversity indicators to the Aichi Targets Comparison of UK indicators with global-level indicators developed by the CBD demonstrates a fairly good fit. At present, no indicators have been identified for Targets 16, 17 and 18. –Target 16 is about the Nagoya protocol on access and benefits sharing – it would be premature to develop an indicator until how this is going to work is resolved –Target 17 is about National Biodiversity Strategy and Action P;lan (NBSAP) – effectively this is a yes/no response at a national level, so is suitable for a global indicator, but not a national one –Target 18 is about indigenous communities – less relevant for UK

12. Using the UK indicators UK biodiversity indicators anticipated to form a major part of the UK’s 5 th CBD national report Need to analyse progress for each Aichi target –Likely to need to integrate messages from different indicators –Other data sources and information also likely to be necessary Some parts of some targets may not be covered

13. UK Biodiversity Indicators – governance & implementation Four Countries Group Four Countries Group Defra, Devolved Administrations, JNCC UK Biodiversity Indicators SG Advice Decisions Defra, Devolved Administrations, Country Agencies, JNCC, NGOs Project Group Advice Decisions Defra, JNCC Biodiversity Indicators Forum Biodiversity Indicators Forum Review Statutory and Non Governmental Organisations, Academia

14. Choosing Indicators Each indicator should have the following characteristics: Policy relevant and meaningful Biodiversity relevant Scientifically sound and methodologically well founded Show progress towards the 2020 targets Easy to understand Based on affordable monitoring, available and routinely collected data Amenable to modelling of cause-effect relationships Good spatial and temporal coverage of data Applicable at a national scale Aggregation possible at a range of scales Sensitive to change The set as a whole should be: Representative Limited in number

15. Q uestions?

16. http://www.cbd.int/nr5/ Reports due to be submitted end March 2014 Part I – An update on biodiversity status, trends, and threats and implications for human well-being o Key information: State of biodiversity reports (e.g. birds, butterflies, …) Part II – The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), its implementation, and the mainstreaming of biodiversity o Key information: Biodiversity and Environment Strategies. CBD 5 th National Report http://www.cbd.int/nr5/

17. 5 th National Report Part III – Progress towards the 2015 and 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets and contributions to the relevant 2015 Targets of the Millennium Development Goals o Key information: biodiversity indicators + Appendices on thematic Programmes of Work & cross-cutting issues o Yet to decide what to include http://www.cbd.int/nr5/

18. Individual indicators can contribute to the assessment of multiple targets (or goals) Target 1 Target 2Target 3 Regional Targets (e.g. EU) National targets Goal Flexible framework; do not need to have the same indicator at each scale

19. Framework from AHTEG What do we do about biodiversity loss? What are the implications of biodiversity loss? Why are we losing biodiversity? How is the status of biodiversity changing?

20. Strategic Goal A Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society Target 1. By 2020, at the latest, people are aware of the values of biodiversity and the steps they can take to conserve and use it sustainably. Target 2: By 2020, at the latest, the biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems. Target 3: By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out or reformed in order to minimize or avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and applied, consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations, taking into account national socio-economic conditions. Target 4: By 2020, at the latest, Governments, business and stakeholders at all levels have taken steps to achieve or have implemented plans for sustainable production and consumption and have kept the impacts of use of natural resources well within safe ecological limits.

21. Strategic Goal B Reduce the direct pressures on biodiversity and promote sustainable use Target 5: By 2020, the rate of loss and degradation, and fragmentation, of natural habitats, including forests, is at least halved and where feasible brought close to zero, and degradation and fragmentation is significantly reduced. Target 6: By 2020, all fish and invertebrate stocks and aquatic plants are managed and harvested sustainably, legally and applying ecosystem based approaches, so that overfishing is avoided, recovery plans and measures are in place for all depleted species, fisheries have no significant adverse impact on threatened species and vulnerable ecosystems and the impacts of fisheries on stocks, species and ecosystems are within safe ecological limits. Target 7: By 2020 areas under agriculture, aquaculture and forestry are managed sustainably, ensuring conservation of biodiversity. Target 8: By 2020, pollution, including from excess nutrients, has been brought to levels that are not detrimental to ecosystem function and biodiversity. Target 9: By 2020, invasive alien species and pathways are identified and prioritized, priority species are controlled or eradicated and measures are in place to manage pathways to prevent their introduction and establishment of invasive alien species. Target 10: By 2015, the multiple anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs, and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification are minimized, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning.

22. Strategic Goal C To improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems, species and genetic diversity Target 11: By 2020, at least 17% of terrestrial and inland water and 10% of coastal and marine areas, especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and ecosystem services, are conserved through effectively and equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, and integrated into the wider landscape and seascape. Target 12: By 2020, the extinction of known threatened species has been prevented and their conservation status, particularly of those most in decline, has been improved and sustained. Target 13: By 2020, the genetic diversity of cultivated plants and farmed and domesticated animals and wild relatives, including other socio-economically as well as culturally valuable species is maintained, and strategies have been developed and implemented for minimizing genetic erosion and safeguarding their genetic diversity.

23. Strategic Goal D Enhance the benefits to all from biodiversity and ecosystems Target 14: By 2020, ecosystems that provide essential services, including services related to water, and contribute to health, livelihoods and well-being, are restored and safeguarded,, taking into account the needs of women, indigenous and local communities and the poor and vulnerable. Target 15: By 2020, ecosystem resilience and the contribution of biodiversity to carbon stocks has been enhanced, through conservation and restoration, including restoration of at least 15% of degraded ecosystems, thereby contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation and to combating desertification. Target 16: By 2015, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization is in force and operational, consistent with national legislation.

24. Strategic Goal E Enhance implementation through participatory planning, knowledge management and capacity building Target 17: By 2015, each Party has developed, adopted as a policy instrument, and has commenced implemented, an effective, participatory and updated national biodiversity strategy and action plan. Target 18: By 2020, the traditional knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities that are relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and their customary use of biological resources, are respected, subject to national legislation and relevant international obligations, and fully integrated and reflected in the in the implementation of the Convention with the full and effective participation of indigenous and local communities, at all relevant levels. Target 19: By 2020, knowledge, the science base and technologies relating to biodiversity, its values, functioning, status and trends, and the consequences of its loss, are improved, widely shared and transferred, and applied. Target 20: By 2020, at the latest, the mobilisation of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan 2011-2020 from all sources and in accordance with the consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilisation should increase substantially from the current levels.

26. Choosing Indicators (1) 1.Policy relevant and meaningful: Each indicator should be policy relevant. It should send a clear message at a level appropriate for policy and management decision making. It should be meaningful on a regional level. 2.Biodiversity relevant: Each indicator should be relevant for biodiversity. 3.Scientifically sound and methodologically well founded: A clear description of the methodology used should be available as the indicator may be used in other indicator initiatives also. 4.Progress towards target: Each indicator should show progress towards the 2020 targets. 5.Broad acceptance and understandability: Each indicator should be easy to understand and to document.

27. Choosing Indicators (2) 6.Affordable monitoring, available and routinely collected data: Each indicator should be able to be updated regularly. 7.Affordable modelling: Information on cause-effect relationships should be achievable and quantifiable. 8.Spatial and temporal coverage of data: the data should be consistent in space and cover all or most of [select spatial resolution]. The temporal coverage of data should be as long as possible, and relevant to the timescale for policy making. 9.National scale and representativeness of data: Each indicator should apply to the national and relevant supra-national. 10.Sensitive: Each indicator should be able to detect changes in systems in timeframes and on the scales that are relevant to policy decisions, but also be robust so that measuring errors do not affect their interpretation.

28. Two assessment periods for each indicator Long-term – assessment of change since the earliest date for which data are available o If data do not precede 1996 a long term assessment is not made Short-term - assessment of change since 2000 Assessment of trend, not distance to target Improving Little or no overall change Deteriorating Insufficient or no comparable data Traffic Light Assessments

29. 2012 results