1. Indicator

(a) Name: Threatened species as a percent of total native species.
(b) Brief Definition: Number of species at risk of extinction in proportion to the total number of native species.
(c) Unit of Measurement: %.

2. Placement in the Framework

(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 15: Conservation of Biological Diversity.
(b) Type of Indicator: State.

3. Significance (Policy Relevance)

(a) Purpose: The purpose of this indicator is to represent the maintenance or, conversely, the loss of species diversity.

(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable Development: Maintenance of biodiversity is essential for ecosystem wellbeing. Species diversity is one of the three main levels of biodiversity, the others being ecosystem and genetic diversity.

(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: This indicator is linked to other indicators which have implications for biodiversity. These would include: protected area as a percent of total area, land use change, wood harvesting intensity, population growth, etc.

(d) Targets: No international targets exist for this indicator. National targets may be set, for example, to reduce threats to species so that threatened species are less than 1% of the total species in any class.

(e) International Conventions and Agreements: Convention on Biological Biodiversity.

4. Methodological Description and Underlying Definitions

(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: The underlying concepts are well articulated, although countries may use variations of terminology. Threatened species are those at risk of extinction, and include endangered, vulnerable, rare, and indeterminate species as defined by the World Conservation Union (IUCN). Extinction means no longer existing anywhere in the world, at least in the wild. Extirpation means no longer existing in the country or area of interest. Species are defined as full native species (not introduced species), not sub-species or other infraspecific taxa. Threatened species relates to Class, the third highest level in the taxonomic hierarchy, after kingdom and phylum.

(b) Measurement Methods: Select all classes for which numbers of native species are known (or estimated), and whose status is monitored or assessed from time to time. For each class, calculate the percentage of threatened native species against total native species in this class.

It is recommended to report on 4 sub-indicators:

i) % threatened vascular plant species, total all classes;
ii) % threatened species within each vascular plant class;
iii) % threatened vertebrate species, total all classes; and
iv) % threatened species within each vertebrate class.

Sub-indicators i) and iii) give an overall picture for plants and animals respectively. Sub-indicators ii) and iv) show which classes are most threatened.

Countries may wish to make separate compilations for each of the 4 sub-indicators of species at risk of extinction, and species at risk of extirpation.

(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: This indicator is a State indication of biodiversity.

(d) Limitations of the Indicator: It is possible to monitor only the more conspicuous and well-known species, which make up a small proportion of total species diversity. Genetic variation within some species may be as important as differences between species, but may be missed by reporting at the species level alone.

(e) Alternative Definitions: Some species and genetic stocks not covered by this indicator could be captured by indicators of ecosystem and genetic diversity.

This indicator better reflects the status of species diversity and is more amenable to target setting than alternatives such as number of threatened species. Number of threatened species does not by itself reflect maintenance or loss of species diversity, since there is no way of distinguishing how much of the number is due to impacts on species and how much to a high total number of species (the more species, the greater the potential of threatened species). Threatened species as a percentage of total species overcomes this problem and enables comparisons between countries and different numbers of species.

However, the number of all species is not known; and only a few species groups are monitored for species status. Therefore, the percentage has to be calculated on the basis of groups whose total numbers of species is known and whose status is monitored. Among animals the highest taxonomic level that meets this criteria is the class. Among plants, it is the class or divisions depending on the classification system.

Number of extinct species is an indicator of the ultimate effectiveness of responses to the threatened species indicator. But the threatened species indicator is a more useful single indicator of impacts on species diversity because it is forward-looking and less difficult to monitor.

5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from International and National Sources

(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: Total number of species and number of threatened species, preferably for all vascular plant and vertebrate animal classes.

(b) Data Availability: National data are available for most countries for higher plants (up to 11 classes, but not reported by class); and for four animal classes (amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals). National data on threatened fishes are also available for many countries, but not reported by class, and usually for freshwater only. National data on total numbers of fish species are not as widely available. Few countries have sub-national data. Many countries hold the data, but for some, it is easier to obtain them from international sources.

(c) Data Sources: National sources include agencies responsible for wildlife management and/or implementing the Biodiversity Convention. The international source is the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC).

6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the Indicator

(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The contact point is the IUCN International Assessment Team; fax no. (1 604) 474 6976.

(b) Other Organizations: Other organizations contributing to the development of this indicator include WCMC, World Resources Institute (WRI), and the Secretariat of the Biological Diversity Convention.

7. Further Information

(a) Further Readings:

Mabberley, D.J. The Plant Book: A Portable Dictionary of the Higher Plants. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom. 1987.

Margulis, Lynn, and Karlene V. Schwartz. Five Kingdoms: An Illustrated Guide to the Phyla of Life on Earth. 2nd edition. W.H. Freeman, New York. 1987.

McNeely, Jeffrey A., et al. Conserving the World's Biological Diversity. IUCN, WRI, CI, US World Wildlife Fund, World Bank, Gland, Switzerland and Washington, D.C. 1990.

Reid, Walter V., et al. Biodiversity Indicators for Policy Makers. WRI, Washington, D.C.

WCMC. Global Biodiversity: Status of the Earth's Living Resources. Chapman and Hall, London. 1992.

(b) Other Contacts:

World Conservation Monitoring Centre; fax no. (44 1223) 277 136.

Species Survival Commission, World Conservation Union; fax no. (41 22) 999 0015.

World Resources Institute; fax no. (1 202) 638 0036.

 

PROTECTED AREA AS A PERCENT OF TOTAL AREA
Environmental	Chapter 15	Response

1. Indicator

(a) Name: Protected land area as a percent of total land area; and protected marine area as a percent of total marine area.
(b) Brief Definition: This indicator combines the area of protected land (including freshwater areas), expressed as a percentage of the total land (and freshwater area; and the area of protected marine area expressed as a percentage of the total marine area.
(c) Unit of Measurement: %.

2. Placement in the Framework

(a) Agenda 21: Chapter 15: Conservation of Biological Diversity.
(b) Type of Indicator: Response.

3. Significance (Policy Relevance)

(a) Purpose: This indicator represents the extent to which areas important for conserving biodiversity, cultural heritage, scientific research (including baseline monitoring), recreation, natural resource maintenance, and other values, are protected from incompatible uses.

(b) Relevance to Sustainable/Unsustainable Development: Protected areas are an essential tool for ecosystem conservation, with functions going well beyond the conservation of biological diversity. As such, they are one of the building blocks of sustainable development.

(c) Linkages to Other Indicators: This indicator is linked to other indicators which have implications for land and resource use. These would include: land use change, wood harvesting intensity, forest area, ratification of global agreements, etc.

(d) Targets: The 1991 Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living establishes a target of 10% protected area for each major ecological region for countries by the year 2000 (see section 7a below). A similar target was agreed to by the IVth World Congress on National Parks and Protected Areas in 1992 (see McNeely reference in section 7a below). Both targets reflect recognition that representation of ecosystem diversity is more meaningful than a flat percentage of the country's area.

(e) International Conventions and Agreements: None exist for this indicator.

4. Methodological Description and Underlying Definitions

(a) Underlying Definitions and Concepts: The World Conservation Union (IUCN) defines six management categories of protected area in two groups. Totally protected areas are maintained in a natural state and are closed to extractive uses. They comprise Category I, Strict Nature Reserves/Wilderness Area; Category II, National Park; and Category III, National Monument. Partially protected areas are managed for specific uses such as recreation, or to provide optimum conditions for certain species or ecological communities. They comprise Category IV, Habitat/Species Management Area; Category , Protected Landscape/Seascape; and Category VI, Managed resource Protected Area (full definitions are included in IUCN CNPPA, 1994 see section 7a below).

Totally protected areas are necessary to protect as wide a range as possible of natural ecological communities and the species that depend on them. For such communities to persist and evolve "naturally" buffered as far as possible against human activities, the protected areas need to be large. Partially protected areas are useful when certain human activities are actually required to protect particular species or ecological communities. They are also necessary to protect valued expressions of human relationships with nature in terms of landscape. The size of the area is usually less important.

(b) Measurement Methods: The usefulness of this indicator depends on clearly distinguishing totally protected areas and partially protected areas, since they have different, although complementary, functions. Each requires a separate expression of the indicator as follows: Calculate the combined area of totally protected areas of 1 000 ha. or more. Calculate the combined area of partially protected area regardless of size. Calculate the percentage of the total land/marine area occupied by each group.

(c) The Indicator in the DSR Framework: This indicator represents a Response to threats to ecosystems, species, and genetic diversity. It also partially reflects the state of ecosystem biodiversity.

(d) Limitations of the Indicator: The effectiveness of this indicator is limited by two problems. First, it represents de jure not de facto protection. It does not indicate the quality of management or whether the areas are in fact protected from incompatible uses. Second, the indicator does not show how representative the protected areas are of the country's ecological diversity. This is a significant deficiency, since a large proportion of some ecosystems may be protected to the neglect of others.

(e) Alternative Definitions: An alternative definition could be coverage of ecosystem diversity by protected area. This uses the same concepts and measurement methods, but distinguishes the percentages of each main ecosystem type that are in protected areas in different size classes.

5. Assessment of the Availability of Data from International and National Sources

(a) Data Needed to Compile the Indicator: Classification of protected areas that can be matched to the IUCN categories. Area of each totally and partially protected area, preferably by size class. Total land and marine area of the country. Classification of ecological regions and ecosystem types, with their areas and locations recorded in a geographical information system is desirable.

(b) Data Availability: National data on protected areas are available for virtually all countries. Sub-national data are available for many. Data on ecological regions and ecosystem types are not so widely available.

(c) Data Source: National sources include agencies responsible for parks and protected areas. The international source is the World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC).

6. Agencies Involved in the Development of the Indicator

(a) Lead Agency: The lead agency is the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The contact point is the IUCN International Assessment Team; fax no. (1 604) 474 6976.

(b) Other Organizations: The WCMC has contributed to the development of this indicator.

7. Further Information

(a) Further Readings:

IUCN CNPPA. Guidelines for Protected Area Management Categories. CNPPA with the assistance of WCMC, IUCN. Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, United Kingdom. 1994.

IUCN, United Nations Environment Programme, World Wildlife Fund. Caring for the Earth: A Strategy for Sustainable Living. Gland, Switzerland and Nairobi. 1991.

McNeely, Jeffrey (ed). Parks for Life: Report of the IVth World Congress on National Parks and Protected Areas. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 1993.

(b) Other Contacts:

Protected Areas Data Unit, World Conservation Monitoring Centre; fax no. (44 1223) 277 136.

World Conservation Union Commission on National Parks and Protected Areas; fax no. (41 22) 999 0015.