goals biodiversity

7/31/2019 Goals Biodiversity

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BiodiversitySUPPORTING HEALTHY MARINE ECOSYSTEMS

Biological diversity (biodiversity) refers to the number and variety of speciesand habitats within a given region. Species are the fundamental buildingblocks of all ecosystems, and the interactions between them determine thesystems structure, function, and stability.

The risk of species extinction generates great emotional and moral concern formany people who cherish biodiversity for its intrinsic existence value simplyknowing that different species and habitats exist, even without a direct use forthem. Others value its economic and ecological benefits to human wellbeing,as captured in other goals of the Ocean Health Index.

Biodiversity measures the conservation status of marine species and thecondition of key habitats that support high numbers of species. The goal

scores higher when the loss or risk of loss of diversity in native species,habitats, and landscapes is minimized.

Global Goal Score

u

Likely Future State

-3%

Goal By Country

What is This? *The estimate of a goals likely near-term future

status is a function of four dimensions: Status,

Trend, Pressure, and Resilience.

How Does Your

Country Compare?

-

GOALS COMPONENTS INDEX BY COUNTRY ABOUT OHI NEWS SEARCH


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This goal contains two sub-goals. Species evaluates the conservation status of marine species;

Habitats evaluates the condition of key habitats that support high numbers of species. The two

sub-goals are weighted equally when calculating the overall goal score.

Species

Why Are Species Important?

The Species sub-goal measures the average status of conservation of

marine species using data on their risk categories (i.e. how many are

categorized as endangered or threatened).

Mark Erdmann

Global Sub-Goal Score

q

Likely Future State

-6%




What Does This Score Mean?

The reference point for this sub-goal is for all species within a country to be categorized at very

low levels of extinction risk, or least concern on the IUCNs (International Union for the

Conservation of Nature) Red List, and for none to be listed as vulnerable, threatened or

endangered.

It is important to recognize that this score represents a small sample of existing marinebiodiversity, since IUCN data currently only exists for about 10% of known marine species and

at least three times as many species are estimated to exist but have not yet been described.

The score is highest when all native species in a given country are free from risk (invasive

species are excluded), and it is 0 when up to 75% of native species are at high risk (this is a

level comparable to prehistoric mass extinctions).

The current score of 79 indicates that the

desired reference point has not been

achieved and that there is the potential risk of

losing a significant proportion of marinespecies diversity.

Current Score

q


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N/A 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90


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Download Infographic

How Is It Measured?EACH GOAL IS EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF FOUR DIMENSIONS.

Present Status is a goal's current

value (based on the most recent

available data) compared to a

reference point.

Present Status

Trend is the average percent

change in the present status for

the most recent 5 years of data.

Trend

Pressures are the sum of the

ecological and social pressures

that negatively affect scores for

a goal.

Pressures

Resilience is the sum of the

ecological factors and social

initiatives (policies, laws, etc)

that can positively affect scores

for a goal by reducing or

eliminating pressures.

Resilience


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Pressures are human-caused stressors that influence both ecological and social

systems, negatively affecting the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

Pressures

Chemical Pollution Nutrient Pollution Trash Pollution Habitat Destruction Hard

Bottom Subtidal

Habitat Destruction Soft

Bottom Subtidal

Habitat Destruction

Intertidal

Alien Species Genetic Escapes Commercial Fishing High

Bycatch

Artisanal Fishing High

Bycatch

Commercial Fishing Low

Bycatch

Artisanal Fishing Low

Bycatch

Sea Surface Temperature Ocean Acidification UV Radiation

Social Pressure

Status refers to the current value of a goal relative to its goal-specific reference

point. The reference point is the best condition for a goal that can reasonably be

achieved; it is a target to aim for when taking actions to improve ocean health.

Status

Species Range Maps Species Threat

Categories

Resilience refers to the social, institutional, and ecological factors that positively

affect the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

Resilience

CBD Water CBD Habitat Marine Protected Areas

EEZ

Cites Signatories CBD Mariculture

CBD Tourism CBD Alien Species Quality Of Governance Artisanal Fishing

Management

Effectivenesss


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Habitats

IUCN. www.iucnredlist.org

Myers at al. 2007. Cascading Effects of the Loss of Apex Predatory Sharks from a Coastal Ocean.

Why Are Habitats Important?

The Habitats sub-goal measures the conservation status of six

habitats - mangroves, coral reefs, seagrass beds, salt marshes, sea

ice, and subtidal soft-bottom habitats - that are particularly important

in supporting large numbers of marine species. This is assessed as the

current habitat extent or condition compared to its health in the 1980s.

All habitats contribute equally, regardless of their extent, because the

presence of a diverse set of habitats, as well as the level of

conservation of each, is considered valuable to achieve this goal.

Peter Stevick

Global Sub-Goal Score

zLikely Future State

+0%




What Does This Score Mean?

The reference point for the status of a countrys diversity-supporting habitats is that their areasor conditions equal or exceed what they were in the early 1980s. Countries are not penalized

for the absence of habitats that do not naturally occur there. The current score of 88 indicates that the six

habitats assessed- mangroves, coral reefs,

seagrass beds, salt marshes, sea ice, and

subtidal soft-bottom habitats- are still

relatively healthy and intact on a global basis.

However, the condition of the assessed

Current Score


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n v r m . n nu

decline in the future would undermine the

score for overall Biodiversity and impact

many other aspects of ocean health.

This sub-goal score contrasts with numerous

scientific studies and media reports. The

most important reason is the reference point

used in the Ocean Health Index. There is no

question that the extent of mangrove forests,

salt marshes and seagrass beds have

declined considerably compared to historic

levels; that sea ice is steadily declining(especially in the Arctic) and that a number of

pressures now seriously challenge coral

reefs. Since it is not possible to return the

ocean to pre-human or pre-industrial age

conditions, the reference point for extent or

condition of most of these habitats has been

set at ~1980, a target that is achievable.

Changes that have occurred since then are

significant, but not as dramatic as when

compared to conditions hundreds of years

ago.

z

N/A 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90


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Download Infographic

How Is It Measured?EACH GOAL IS EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF FOUR DIMENSIONS.

Present Status is a goal's current

value (based on the most recent

available data) compared to a

reference point.

Present Status

Trend is the average percent

change in the present status for

the most recent 5 years of data.

Trend

Pressures are the sum of the

ecological and social pressures

that negatively affect scores for

a goal.

Pressures

Resilience is the sum of the

ecological factors and social

initiatives (policies, laws, etc)

that can positively affect scores

for a goal by reducing or

eliminating pressures.

Resilience

Pressures are human-caused stressors that influence both ecological and social

systems, negatively affecting the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

Pressures


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Chemical Pollution Nutrient Pollution Habitat Destruction

Intertidal

Social Pressure Alien Species

Sea Surface Temperature Ocean Acidification Habitat Destruction Hard

Bottom Subtidal

UV Radiation Habitat Destruction Soft

Bottom Subtidal

Commercial Fishing High

Bycatch

Commercial Fishing Low

Bycatch

Artisanal Fishing Low

Bycatch

Status refers to the current value of a goal relative to its goal-specific reference

point. The reference point is the best condition for a goal that can reasonably be

achieved; it is a target to aim for when taking actions to improve ocean health.

Status

Mangroves Seagrass Condition Seagrass Extent Salt Marsh Extent Coral Reefs Condition

Sea Ice Extent Soft Bottom Condition

Resilience refers to the social, institutional, and ecological factors that positively

affect the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

Resilience

CBD Habitat Marine Protected Areas

EEZ

CBD Mariculture CBD Tourism CBD Alien Species

Ecological Integrity Quality Of Governance CBD Water Cites Signatories Fisheries Management

Effectiveness

Artisanal Fishing

Management

Effectiveness Access

References

Reefs at Risk Revisited, World Resources Institute.

Veron, J. E. N., et al. 2009. Delineating the Coral Triangle


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PHOTO(S): Beau Wrigley

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