[en] 1. Smart biodiversity indicators are needed not only for assessing and managing biodiversity (change) but also for informing target setting for environmental policies. This need has created a plethora of indicator frameworks, which are widely debated in terms of their design and usefulness. We propose that these discussions would benefit from more clearly separating different types of indicators and more operationally linking them to management targets and biodiversity goals. 2. Decision makers often consider the multitude of biodiversity indicators as being complicated, whereas scientists emphasize that they barely reflect how complex biodiversity is. It is therefore important to differentiate clearly between indicators for diagnosing (the drivers of) biodiversity change and indicators for steering policies. While the former must be scalable in time and space and reflect the full complexity of biodiversity, the latter need long-term visions and simplicity. 3. Management targets such as proportions of protected areas or mitigation of biodiversity drivers have the advantage of being operation-oriented, well quantifiable and immediately responsive to change. Achieving a management target, however, does not necessarily equal achieving a biodiversity goal. Likewise, management indicators that track how well management targets are achieved cannot replace diagnostic or steering indicators. 4. Solution: Biodiversity goals such as 'bending the curve' can only be achieved by closely linking diagnosis, steering and management, while accepting that their distinct design principles need to be addressed. Being aware and accepting such tailored types of different indicators and management targets could strongly improve the interplay between science and policy to reverse negative biodiversity trends in the future.
Research center :
Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems (LCSES)
Disciplines :
Environmental sciences & ecology
Author, co-author :
Hillebrand, Helmut; School of Mathematics and Science, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany ; Helmholtz-Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, University of Oldenburg [HIFMB], Oldenburg, Germany ; Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research [AWI], Bremerhaven, Germany
Dajka, Jan-Claas; Helmholtz-Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, University of Oldenburg [HIFMB], Oldenburg, Germany ; Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research [AWI], Bremerhaven, Germany
Halbach, Maurits; Helmholtz-Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, University of Oldenburg [HIFMB], Oldenburg, Germany ; Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research [AWI], Bremerhaven, Germany
Happe, Anika; School of Mathematics and Science, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment (ICBM), Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Oldenburg, Germany
Röchert, Ralf; Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research [AWI], Bremerhaven, Germany
SEPPELT, Ralf ; University of Luxembourg > Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems (LCSES) ; Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
Settele, Josef; Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany ; Deutsches Zentrum für Integrative Biodiversitätsforschung [iDiv], Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
Weitere, Markus; Department River Ecology, Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Magdeburg, Germany
Winter, Marten; Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems (LCSES), Luxembourg University, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
Zinngrebe, Yves; Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
Dorothee Hodapp, |; Helmholtz-Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, University of Oldenburg [HIFMB], Oldenburg, Germany ; Alfred Wegener Institute, Helmholtz-Centre for Polar and Marine Research [AWI], Bremerhaven, Germany
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Operational perspectives for biodiversity indicators
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