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Science Letters - Prioritize Wild Species Abundance Indicators
17 May 2023
A letter written by academic researchers was published in Science on Thursday 11th May. This letter argues that to meet the objectives of the new CBD Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a species abundance indicator must be added to the list of headline indicators.
A letter written by academic researchers from Denmark, Uganda, UK, Austria and China was published in Science on Thursday 11th May.
This letter argues that to meet the objectives of the new CBD Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), a species abundance indicator needs to be added to the list of headline indicators.聽聽The current metrics do not adequately align with the GBF鈥檚 Goal A, one of the four overarching GBF goals, which states that 鈥渢he abundance of native wild species [should be] increased to healthy and resilient levels.鈥� 聽The emphasis on the abundance of wild species is appropriate as it constitutes a fundamental aspect of biodiversity. 聽However, a corresponding abundance metric is not among the 25 鈥渉eadline indicators,鈥� on which the parties are required to report. 聽These are intended to capture the overall scope of and progress toward the goals and targets of GBF, at both global and national levels. 聽To meet the GBF鈥檚 objectives, we argue that abundance should be added to the list of headline indicators 鈥� and point to the LPD/LPI!
聽Reference: Geldmann J, Byaruhanga AB, Gregory RD, Visconti P & Xu H. (2023). Prioritize wild species abundance indicators. Science 380: 591-592 (6645)