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Biodiversity

SUPPORTING HEALTHY MARINE ECOSYSTEMS Biological diversity (biodiversity) refers to the number and variety of species and habitats within a given region. Species are the fundamental building blocks of all ecosystems, and the interactions between them determine the systems structure, function, and stability. The risk of species extinction generates great emotional and moral concern for many people who cherish biodiversity for its intrinsic existence value simply knowing that different species and habitats exist, even without a direct use for them. 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 the condition 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

What is This?

Likely Future State

Goal By Country

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How Does Your Country Compare?

*The estimate of a goals likely near-term future status is a function of four dimensions: Status, Trend, Pressure, and Resilience.

Sub-Goals

Sub-Goals
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

What is This?

Likely Future State

*The estimate of a goals likely near-term future status is a function of four dimensions: Status, Trend, Pressure, and Resilience.

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 marine biodiversity, 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).

Current Score
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 marine species diversity.

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Download Infographic

How Is It Measured?
Present Status
Present Status is a goal's current value (based on the most recent available data) compared to a reference point.

EACH GOAL IS EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF FOUR DIMENSIONS.

Trend
Trend is the average percent change in the present status for the most recent 5 years of data.

Pressures
Pressures are the sum of the ecological and social pressures that negatively affect scores for a goal.

Resilience
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.

Pressures
Chemical Pollution

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.

Nutrient Pollution

Trash Pollution

Habitat Destruction Hard Bottom Subtidal Commercial Fishing High Bycatch Ocean Acidification

Habitat Destruction Soft Bottom Subtidal Artisanal Fishing High Bycatch UV Radiation

Habitat Destruction Intertidal Commercial Fishing Low Bycatch Social Pressure

Alien Species

Genetic Escapes

Artisanal Fishing Low Bycatch

Sea Surface Temperature

Status
Species Range Maps

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.

Species Threat Categories

Resilience
CBD Water

Resilience refers to the social, institutional, and ecological factors that positively affect the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

CBD Habitat

Marine Protected Areas EEZ

Cites Signatories

CBD Mariculture

CBD Tourism

CBD Alien Species

Quality Of Governance

Artisanal Fishing Management Effectivenesss

References

References
IUCN. www.iucnredlist.org Myers at al. 2007. Cascading Effects of the Loss of Apex Predatory Sharks from a Coastal Ocean.

Habitats
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

What is This?

Likely Future State

*The estimate of a goals likely near-term future status is a function of four dimensions: Status, Trend, Pressure, and Resilience.

What Does This Score Mean?

The reference point for the status of a countrys diversity-supporting habitats is that their areas or 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.

Current Score
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 habitats has declined over time. Continued

habitats has declined over time. Continued 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.

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Download Infographic

How Is It Measured?
Present Status
Present Status is a goal's current value (based on the most recent available data) compared to a reference point.

EACH GOAL IS EVALUATED ON THE BASIS OF FOUR DIMENSIONS.

Trend
Trend is the average percent change in the present status for the most recent 5 years of data.

Pressures
Pressures are the sum of the ecological and social pressures that negatively affect scores for a goal.

Resilience
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.

Pressures
Chemical Pollution

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.

Nutrient Pollution

Habitat Destruction

Social Pressure

Alien Species

Chemical Pollution

Nutrient Pollution

Habitat Destruction Intertidal Habitat Destruction Hard Bottom Subtidal Artisanal Fishing Low Bycatch

Social Pressure

Alien Species

Sea Surface Temperature

Ocean Acidification

UV Radiation

Habitat Destruction Soft Bottom Subtidal

Commercial Fishing High Bycatch

Commercial Fishing Low Bycatch

Status
Mangroves Sea Ice Extent

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.

Seagrass Condition Soft Bottom Condition

Seagrass Extent

Salt Marsh Extent

Coral Reefs Condition

Resilience
CBD Habitat

Resilience refers to the social, institutional, and ecological factors that positively affect the ability of a goal to deliver its benefits to people.

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

Featured Stories
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August 09, 2012

PHOTO(S): Beau Wrigley

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