Scientific foundations for an ecosystem goal, milestones and indicators for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

Emily Nicholson^{1

2}, Kate E Watermeyer³, Jessica A Rowland³, Chloe F Sato³, Simone L Stevenson³, Angela Andrade^{4

5}, Thomas M Brooks^{6

7

8}, Neil D Burgess^{9

10}, Su-Ting Cheng¹¹, Hedley S Grantham¹², Samantha L Hill⁹, David A Keith^{4

13

14}, Martine Maron¹⁵, Daniel Metzke¹⁶, Nicholas J Murray¹⁷, Cara R Nelson^{4

18}, David Obura¹⁹, Andy Plumptre²⁰, Andrew L Skowno^{21

22}, James E M Watson¹⁵

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. e.nicholson@deakin.edu.au.
² IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, Gland, Switzerland. e.nicholson@deakin.edu.au.
³ Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, Gland, Switzerland.
⁵ Conservación Internacional, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
⁶ IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
⁷ World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), University of The Philippines, Los Baños, The Philippines.
⁸ Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
⁹ UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Cambridge, UK.
¹⁰ Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
¹¹ School of Forestry & Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
¹² Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, New York, NY, USA.
¹³ Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁴ NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁵ Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁶ Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany.
¹⁷ College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁸ Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
¹⁹ CORDIO East Africa, Mombasa, Kenya.
²⁰ Key Biodiversity Area Secretariat, BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
²¹ South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa.
²² Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

PMID: 34400825
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01538-5

Review

Scientific foundations for an ecosystem goal, milestones and indicators for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

Emily Nicholson et al. Nat Ecol Evol. 2021 Oct.

. 2021 Oct;5(10):1338-1349.

doi: 10.1038/s41559-021-01538-5. Epub 2021 Aug 16.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia. e.nicholson@deakin.edu.au.
² IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, Gland, Switzerland. e.nicholson@deakin.edu.au.
³ Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
⁴ IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management, Gland, Switzerland.
⁵ Conservación Internacional, Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia.
⁶ IUCN, Gland, Switzerland.
⁷ World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), University of The Philippines, Los Baños, The Philippines.
⁸ Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
⁹ UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), Cambridge, UK.
¹⁰ Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
¹¹ School of Forestry & Resource Conservation, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
¹² Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, New York, NY, USA.
¹³ Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of NSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁴ NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia.
¹⁵ Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁶ Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Potsdam, Germany.
¹⁷ College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
¹⁸ Department of Ecosystem and Conservation Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA.
¹⁹ CORDIO East Africa, Mombasa, Kenya.
²⁰ Key Biodiversity Area Secretariat, BirdLife International, Cambridge, UK.
²¹ South African National Biodiversity Institute, Kirstenbosch Research Centre, Cape Town, South Africa.
²² Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.

PMID: 34400825
DOI: 10.1038/s41559-021-01538-5

Abstract

Despite substantial conservation efforts, the loss of ecosystems continues globally, along with related declines in species and nature's contributions to people. An effective ecosystem goal, supported by clear milestones, targets and indicators, is urgently needed for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and beyond to support biodiversity conservation, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and efforts to abate climate change. Here, we describe the scientific foundations for an ecosystem goal and milestones, founded on a theory of change, and review available indicators to measure progress. An ecosystem goal should include three core components: area, integrity and risk of collapse. Targets-the actions that are necessary for the goals to be met-should address the pathways to ecosystem loss and recovery, including safeguarding remnants of threatened ecosystems, restoring their area and integrity to reduce risk of collapse and retaining intact areas. Multiple indicators are needed to capture the different dimensions of ecosystem area, integrity and risk of collapse across all ecosystem types, and should be selected for their fitness for purpose and relevance to goal components. Science-based goals, supported by well-formulated action targets and fit-for-purpose indicators, will provide the best foundation for reversing biodiversity loss and sustaining human well-being.

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References

1. Convention on Biological Diversity (UN, 1992).
1. Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020, Including Aichi Biodiversity Targets (CBD, 2011); http://www.cbd.int/sp/
1. Transforming Our World: the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development A/RES/70/1 (UN, 2015).
1. Global Biodiversity Outlook 5 (Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2020).
1. Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (eds Brondizio, E. S. et al.) (IPBES, 2019); https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3831673

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Scientific foundations for an ecosystem goal, milestones and indicators for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

Affiliations

Scientific foundations for an ecosystem goal, milestones and indicators for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

References

Publication types

MeSH terms

LinkOut - more resources

Full Text Sources

Other Literature Sources

Miscellaneous