2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership
Encyclopedia
The Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP) brings together a host of international organizations working on indicator development, to provide the best available information on biodiversity trends to the global community. The Partnership was initially established to help monitor progress towards the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) 2010 Biodiversity target. However, since its establishment in 2006 the BIP has developed a strong identity not only within the CBD but with other Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), national and regional governments and other sectors. As a result the Partnership will continue through international collaboration and cooperation to provide biodiversity indicator information and trends into the future.
(Rio+20), the Millennium Development Goals
(MDGs), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the United Nations Environment Programme
and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Central to the renewed Partnership will be its revitalized relationship with the Convention on Biological Diversity
. In 2010, at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the CBD held in Nagoya, Japan the BIP was referenced eight times in the official adopted decisions. These references demonstrated a clear will for the Partnership to continue supporting the CBD with implementation of the new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The Strategic Plan consists of 20 new biodiversity targets for 2020, termed the ‘Aichi Biodiversity Targets’. Official decisions on an indicator set to measure progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets will help cement the role the Partnership will play in supporting the CBD.
In the meantime a review of the existing partnership and its structure will lead to revised roles and an expanded membership to maintain and enhance the BIP’s position as the leading authority on global, regional and national indicator development and production.
encompasses the entire variety of life on Earth. It is vital for human survival and is a key measure of the health of our planet. Human activities are irreversibly impacting biodiversity. In all regions of the world species extinction rates have increased, ecosystems have been degraded, and genetic diversity has declined.
In response to this situation, the international community agreed “to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth.” This '2010 Biodiversity Target
' was adopted by governments in 2002 at the 6th Conference of the Parties (COP 6) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
.
An essential part of reaching the 2010 biodiversity target was being able to measure and communicate progress. For this purpose the CBD
adopted a framework in 2004, which included the use of a range of biodiversity indicators to measure progress towards the 2010 target. In 2006 this framework was further elaborated and the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership was established, as a global initiative to further develop and promote indicators for the consistent monitoring and assessment of biodiversity. The 2010 BIP wasd established with major support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
.
(1) The generation of information on biodiversity trends which is useful to decision makers;
(2) To ensure improved global indicators are implemented and available;
(3) To establish links between biodiversity initiatives at the national and regional levels to enable capacity building and improve the delivery of the biodiversity indicators.
governance and advisory bodies, the global biodiversity community identified a suite of 17 headline indicators from the seven focal areas for assessing progress towards, and communicating the 2010 target at a global level.
Since 2007, partners have worked to ensure the most accurate information is available to decision makers. The BIP indicators have substantially contributed to the 3rd edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, featuring in the Status and Trends in Biodiversity chapter of this flagship CBD publication.
The Partnership also works to integrate indicator results into coherent, compelling storylines giving a more understandable picture of the status of biodiversity.
Partners of the BIP can be separated into the following categories:
(CBD), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
(ITPGRFA), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Ramsar Convention
on Wetlands. Engagement with the private sector is also an objective for the partnership. The BIP has provided financial support and currently provides ongoing technical support to the Global Reporting Initiative
(GRI), to advance the integration of related indicators into corperate performance measures.
A series of guidance documents on national indicator development have been published, together with a web portal (www.bipnational.net). This multi-language website is the most comprehensive online resource of guidance, support and shared experiences of effective indicator development for countries and regions looking to develop biodiversity indicators.
Guidance Documents:
Current Status
The Biodiversity Indicators Partnership is currently in a renewal phase. The Partnership is expanding in breadth and knowledge to ensure that it can play central role in a range of processes over the course of the comining decade, including supporting the United Nations Conference on Sustainable DevelopmentUnited Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
In 2012 the United Nations will convene the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, also known as Rio 2012 or Rio+20, hosted by Brazil in Rio de Janeiro, as a 20-year follow-up to the historic 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development that was held in the same city...
(Rio+20), the Millennium Development Goals
Millennium Development Goals
The Millennium Development Goals are eight international development goals that all 193 United Nations member states and at least 23 international organizations have agreed to achieve by the year 2015...
(MDGs), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies...
(UNCCD), the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the United Nations Environment Programme
United Nations Environment Programme
The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its...
and the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). Central to the renewed Partnership will be its revitalized relationship with the Convention on Biological Diversity
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
. In 2010, at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the CBD held in Nagoya, Japan the BIP was referenced eight times in the official adopted decisions. These references demonstrated a clear will for the Partnership to continue supporting the CBD with implementation of the new Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The Strategic Plan consists of 20 new biodiversity targets for 2020, termed the ‘Aichi Biodiversity Targets’. Official decisions on an indicator set to measure progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets will help cement the role the Partnership will play in supporting the CBD.
In the meantime a review of the existing partnership and its structure will lead to revised roles and an expanded membership to maintain and enhance the BIP’s position as the leading authority on global, regional and national indicator development and production.
Background
BiodiversityBiodiversity
Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is a measure of the health of ecosystems. Biodiversity is in part a function of climate. In terrestrial habitats, tropical regions are typically rich whereas polar regions...
encompasses the entire variety of life on Earth. It is vital for human survival and is a key measure of the health of our planet. Human activities are irreversibly impacting biodiversity. In all regions of the world species extinction rates have increased, ecosystems have been degraded, and genetic diversity has declined.
In response to this situation, the international community agreed “to achieve by 2010 a significant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at global, regional and national level as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefit of all life on Earth.” This '2010 Biodiversity Target
2010 biodiversity target
The 2010 Biodiversity Target was an overall conservation target aiming to halt the decline of biodiversity by the end of 2010. The world largely failed to meet the target .-History of the 2010 Biodiversity Target:...
' was adopted by governments in 2002 at the 6th Conference of the Parties (COP 6) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
.
An essential part of reaching the 2010 biodiversity target was being able to measure and communicate progress. For this purpose the CBD
Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
adopted a framework in 2004, which included the use of a range of biodiversity indicators to measure progress towards the 2010 target. In 2006 this framework was further elaborated and the 2010 Biodiversity Indicators Partnership was established, as a global initiative to further develop and promote indicators for the consistent monitoring and assessment of biodiversity. The 2010 BIP wasd established with major support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF)
Global Environment Facility
The Global Environment Facility unites 182 member governments — in partnership with international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector — to address global environmental issues....
.
Objectives of the BIP
The main objective of the Partnership is a reduction in the rate of biodiversity loss at the global level, through improved decisions for the conservation of global biodiversity. In order to meet this objective the key outcomes of the BIP are:(1) The generation of information on biodiversity trends which is useful to decision makers;
(2) To ensure improved global indicators are implemented and available;
(3) To establish links between biodiversity initiatives at the national and regional levels to enable capacity building and improve the delivery of the biodiversity indicators.
Biodiversity Indicators
Through CBDConvention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
governance and advisory bodies, the global biodiversity community identified a suite of 17 headline indicators from the seven focal areas for assessing progress towards, and communicating the 2010 target at a global level.
Since 2007, partners have worked to ensure the most accurate information is available to decision makers. The BIP indicators have substantially contributed to the 3rd edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, featuring in the Status and Trends in Biodiversity chapter of this flagship CBD publication.
The Partnership also works to integrate indicator results into coherent, compelling storylines giving a more understandable picture of the status of biodiversity.
| Focal areas | Headline indicators |
|---|---|
| Status and trends of the components of biodiversity | Trends in extent of selected biomes, ecosystems and habitats Trends in abundance and distribution of selected species Coverage of protected areas Change in status of threatened species Trends in genetic diversity |
| Sustainable Use | Proportion of products derived from sustainable sources Ecological Footprint Ecological footprint The ecological footprint is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems. It is a standardized measure of demand for natural capital that may be contrasted with the planet's ecological capacity to regenerate. It represents the amount of biologically productive land and sea area necessary to... and related concepts |
| Threats to Biodiversity | Nitrogen Deposition Invasive Alien Species |
| Ecosystem integrity and ecosystem goods and services | Marine Trophic Index Water Quality Connectivity/fragmentation of ecosystems Health and well being of communities Biodiversity for food and medicine |
| Status of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices | Status and trends of linguistic diversity and numbers of speakers of indigenous languages |
| Status of access and benefit sharing | To be determined |
| Status of resource transfers | Official development assistance provided in support of the Convention |
Partners
The Partnership brings together a host of international organisations working to support the regular delivery of biodiversity indicators at the global and national levels.Partners of the BIP can be separated into the following categories:
| STEERING COMMITTEE Advise on the general direction of the BIP project, and review and provide advice on key outputs |
KEY INDICATOR PARTNERS Develop and implement the biodiversity indicators |
ASSOCIATE INDICATOR PARTNERS Assist in the development and implementation of the indicator suite, and/or provide support to the Partnership |
AFFILIATE PARTNERS Work towards similar aims and objectives as the BIP, although at different scales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity Convention on Biological Diversity The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty... (CBD) European Environment Agency European Environment Agency European Environment Agency is an agency of the European Union. Its task is to provide sound, independent information on the environment. It is a major information source for those involved in developing, adopting, implementing and evaluating environmental policy, and also the general public... (EEA) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Global Environment Facility Global Environment Facility The Global Environment Facility unites 182 member governments — in partnership with international institutions, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector — to address global environmental issues.... (GEF) International Union for Conservation of Nature(IUCN) Ramsar Convention on Wetlands United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Environment Programme The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its... (UNEP) United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP WCMC) |
Bioversity International Bioversity International Bioversity International is one of 15 agricultural research centres supported by the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research . It is dedicated to the conservation and use of agricultural biodiversity to improve the livelihoods of poor people. The organization is highly... BirdLife International BirdLife International BirdLife International is a global Partnership of conservation organisations that strives to conserve birds, their habitats and global biodiversity, working with people towards sustainability in the use of natural resources... Conservation International Conservation International Conservation International is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, which seeks to ensure the health of humanity by protecting Earth's ecosystems and biodiversity. CI’s work focuses on six key initiatives that affect human well-being: climate, food security, freshwater... (CI) Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Global Footprint Network Global Footprint Network Global Footprint Network, founded in 2003, is an independent think tank based in the United States, Belgium and Switzerland. Global Footprint Network works on tools for advancing sustainability.-Work:... (GFN) Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) Institute of Zoology Institute of Zoology The Institute of Zoology is the research division of the Zoological Society of London in England. It is a government-funded research institute specialising in scientific issues relevant to the conservation of animal species and their habitats... , Zoological Society of London (ZSL) International Nitrogen Initiative (INI) IUCN Species Survival Commission IUCN Species Survival Commission The IUCN Species Survival Commission is a special commission operated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The commission's "major role is to provide information to IUCN on biodiversity conservation, the inherent value of species, their role in ecosystem health and functioning,... (IUCN SSC) IUCN Sustainable Use Specialist Group IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas (IUCN WCPA) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Bird Notes and News was first published in April 1903.The title changed to 'Bird Notes' in 1947. In the 1950s, there were four copies per year . Each volume covered two years, spread over three calendar years... (RSPB) Sea Around Us Project Sea Around Us Project The Sea Around Us Project is an international research group based at the University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre that is devoted to studying the impacts of fisheries on the world's marine ecosystems... The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy The Nature Conservancy is a US charitable environmental organization that works to preserve the plants, animals, and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on Earth by protecting the lands and waters they need to survive.... (TNC) TRAFFIC International University of British Columbia (UBC) Fisheries Centre Fisheries Centre The Fisheries Centre, located at the University of British Columbia, promotes multidisciplinary study of aquatic ecosystems and broad-based collaboration with maritime communities, government, NGOs and other partners... United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) UNEP Global Environmental Monitoring System (GEMS) Water Programme United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) University of Queensland University of Queensland The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation... , Australia Wetlands International Wetlands International Wetlands International is a global organisation that works to sustain and restore wetlands and their resources for people and biodiversity. It is an independent, not-for-profit, global organisation, supported by government and NGO membership from around the world... World Health Organization World Health Organization The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health... (WHO) World Wide Fund for Nature World Wide Fund for Nature The World Wide Fund for Nature is an international non-governmental organization working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment, formerly named the World Wildlife Fund, which remains its official name in Canada and the United States... WWF |
Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) Global Biodiversity Information Facility Global Biodiversity Information Facility The Global Biodiversity Information Facility is an international organisation that focuses on making scientific data on biodiversity available via the Internet using web services. The data are provided by many institutions from around the world; GBIF's information architecture makes these data... (GBIF) International Council on Mining and Metals International Council on Mining and Metals The International Council on Mining and Metals is composed of 18 mining companies. The council was formed in October 2001 to comply with the mission set forth in the Global Mining Initiative. Criticism of lack of oversight in industrial mining operations from environmental and social groups... (ICMM) Global Land Cover Facility, NASA/NGO Biodiversity Working Group Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Terralingua United Nations Environment Programme United Nations Environment Programme The United Nations Environment Programme coordinates United Nations environmental activities, assisting developing countries in implementing environmentally sound policies and practices. It was founded as a result of the United Nations Conference on the Human Environment in June 1972 and has its... (UNEP) Wildlife Conservation Society Wildlife Conservation Society The Wildlife Conservation Society based at the Bronx Zoo was founded in 1895 as the New York Zoological Society and currently manages some of wild places around the world, with over 500 field conservation projects in 60 countries, and 200 scientists on staff... |
ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity Biotrade Initiative Center for International Earth Science Information Network Countdown 2010 Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) Global Reporting Initiative Global Reporting Initiative The Global Reporting Initiative produces one of the world's most prevalent standards for sustainability reporting - also known as ecological footprint reporting, Environmental Social Governance reporting, Triple Bottom Line reporting, Corporate Social Responsibility reporting... International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) Land Degradation Assessment in Drylands (LADA) NorBio2010 PROMEBIO: A Regional Strategic Biodiversity Monitoring and Evaluation Program for Central America Streamlining European 2010 Biodiversity Indicators (SEBI2010) The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB) United Nations University United Nations University The United Nations University is an academic arm of the United Nations established in 1973, which serves purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations. The UNU undertakes research into the pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare that are the concern of... - The Institute for Water, Environment and Health Tour du valat Water Footprint Network |
Establishing Links
The BIP works to communicate links between the partnership’s work and all potential users, including highlighting the utility of the components of the CBD indicator suite for other multilateral environmental agreements. The BIP has presented results and hosted events at major international meetings of the following MEAs: the Convention on Biological DiversityConvention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity , known informally as the Biodiversity Convention, is an international legally binding treaty...
(CBD), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
The United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa is a Convention to combat desertification and mitigate the effects of drought through national action programs that incorporate long-term strategies...
(UNCCD), the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture
The International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture , popularly known as the International Seed Treaty, is a comprehensive international agreement in harmony with the Convention on Biological Diversity, which aims at guaranteeing food security through the conservation,...
(ITPGRFA), the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS) and the Ramsar Convention
Ramsar Convention
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i.e., to stem the progressive encroachment on and loss of wetlands now and in the future, recognizing the fundamental ecological functions of wetlands and their economic, cultural,...
on Wetlands. Engagement with the private sector is also an objective for the partnership. The BIP has provided financial support and currently provides ongoing technical support to the Global Reporting Initiative
Global Reporting Initiative
The Global Reporting Initiative produces one of the world's most prevalent standards for sustainability reporting - also known as ecological footprint reporting, Environmental Social Governance reporting, Triple Bottom Line reporting, Corporate Social Responsibility reporting...
(GRI), to advance the integration of related indicators into corperate performance measures.
Regional and National Indicator Support and Development
In addition to improving global-scale indicators, the BIP has been actively involved in supporting national and regional initiatives; facilitating indicator development and implementation that responds to country-specific national biodiversity priorities. A programme of capacity building workshops has been run across the globe, bringing together the various institutional representatives involved in national indicator development to share experiences and best-practice. Some 45 countries have been engaged to date.A series of guidance documents on national indicator development have been published, together with a web portal (www.bipnational.net). This multi-language website is the most comprehensive online resource of guidance, support and shared experiences of effective indicator development for countries and regions looking to develop biodiversity indicators.
Guidance Documents:
- Guidance for National Biodiversity Indicator Development and Use
- Biodiversity Indicators capacity Strengthening: experiences from Africa
- Wild Bird Index: Guidance for national and regional use
- Coverage of Protected Areas: Guidance for national and regional use
- IUCN Red List Index: Guidance for national and regional use
- Living Planet Index: Guidance for national and regional use