Metadata Factsheet

3. Goals and Targets addressed

3a. Goal

Binary indicator for Goal B. Biodiversity is sustainably used and managed and nature’s contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services, are valued, maintained and enhanced, with those currently in decline being restored, supporting the achievement of sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations by 2050.

3b. Target

N/A

5. Definitions, concepts and classifications

5a. Definition

3. Maintenance of biodiversity and NCP: Measures put in place to keep the existing quantity and quality of biodiversity and nature’s contribution to people.

4. Enhancement of biodiversity and NCP: Measures put in place to improve the quality and quantity of biodiversity and nature’s contribution to people.

5. Nature’s contribution to people: Nature’s contributions to people (a concept similar to and inclusive of ecosystem services) refers to all the contributions from biodiversity to people’s wellbeing or quality of life. They include (a) material contributions, such as the production of food, feed, fibre, medicines and energy, (b) regulating services, such as the regulation of air and water quality, climate regulation, pollination, regulation of pests and diseases and provision of habitat, and (c) other non-material contributions, such as learning, inspiration, health, physical, psychological, spiritual well-being and experiences and supporting identities and culture, as well as maintaining options for future generations.

6. Sustainable use: Sustainable use is defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity as “the use of components of biological diversity in a way and at a rate that does not lead to the long-term decline of biological diversity, thereby maintaining its potential to meet the needs and aspirations of present and future generations.”

7. Ecosystem functions: The flow of energy and materials through the biotic and abiotic components of an ecosystem. It includes many processes such as biomass production, trophic transfer through plants and animals, nutrient cycling, water dynamics and heat transfer.

8. Ecosystem service: A service that is provided by an ecosystem as an intrinsic property of its functionality (e.g. pollination, nutrient cycling, nitrogen fixation, fruit and seed dispersal) contributing to the benefits (and occasionally disbenefits) that people obtain from ecosystems. These include provisioning services such as food and water; regulating services such as flood and disease control; and cultural services such as recreation and sense of place. This includes the whole pathway from ecological processes through to final ecosystem services, goods and anthropocentric values to people. In the original definition of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment the concept of ecosystem goods and services is synonymous with ecosystem services.

9. Action plan: A recognized program or strategy with a course of action to deliver on the Framework's goals.

10. Policy: A set or framework of general objectives and management principles that the undertaking uses for decision-making. A policy implements the undertaking’s strategy or management decisions related to a matter. Each policy is under the responsibility of defined person(s), specifies its perimeter of application, and includes one or more objectives (linked when applicable to measurable targets). A policy is validated and reviewed following the undertakings’ applicable governance rules. A policy is implemented through actions or action plans.

5b. Method of computation

11. This indicator is a binary indicator and must be compiled from the answers to four questions:

(a) B.1 Does your country have policies and/or action plans aiming to ensure the maintenance, enhancement and restoration of nature’s contributions to people, including of ecosystem functions and services?

(b) B.2 Does your country have policies and/or action plans aiming to ensure the sustainable use of biodiversity?

(c) B.3 Does your country monitor the sustainable use of biodiversity?

(d) B.4 Does your country monitor the maintenance, restoration and enhancement of nature’s contributions to people, including ecosystem functions and services for the benefit of present and future generations?

12. There are four possible answers to each of these questions:

(a) No

(b) Under development

(c) Partially

(d) Fully

13. A “No” answer implies that there are no policies or action plans currently in place at the national level to ensure the maintenance, enhancement and restoration of NCP (B.1) nor the sustainable use of biodiversity (B.2) and that no monitoring of the sustainable use of biodiversity (B.3) nor maintenance, enhancement and restoration of NCP is taking place (B.4). Therefore, nopolicies nor action plans exist in the country for the specific requirements of each question in turn.

14. An “Under development” answer implies a concerted effort at the national level to put in place policies or action plans for NCP maintenance, restoration or enhancement (B.1) or for the sustainable use of biodiversity (B.2). These plans or policies may be in the draft stage, have been published for review or pending acceptance/ratification. In either case, there must be a clear official proposal for a national level policy or action plan to select this answer, ongoing efforts to draft texts is insufficient. Monitoring of sustainable use of biodiversity (B.3) and either maintenance, enhancement or restoration of NCP is in development (B.4), monitoring programs and reporting systems may be in the design phase or be completed and accepted but not resourced, and therefore have not begun.

15. A “Partially” answer implies that some of the elements in the question have been met but not all. That is, policies and/or action plans are in place to:

(a) ensure the maintenance, enhancement or restoration of NCP but not all three (B.1)

(b) these fail to include ecosystem functions or services or both (B.1)

(c) these do not account for the sustainable use of all aspects of biodiversity, e.g. not including genetic diversity (B.2)

16. Monitoring of the sustainable use of biodiversity (B.3) has begun but only addresses some aspects of biodiversity (for example only species or genetic diversity). Monitoring of the maintenance, enhancement or restoration of NCP is taking place but not all three (B.4). If any one of the cases outlined above applies, only partial achievement has been reached.

17. A “Fully” answer implies that all the conditions outlined in “Partially” have been met. Namely that both policies and/or actions are in place at the national level for maintenance, enhancement and restoration of NCP, including ecosystem functions and services (B.1) and to ensure the sustainable use of biodiversity (B.2). Additionally, monitoring is in place and ongoing for the sustainable use of all aspects of biodiversity (B.3) and for the maintenance, enhancement and restoration of NCP (B.4).

No