21 August 2018: The Biodiversity Indicators Partnership (BIP), which tracks progress towards global biodiversity targets, has completed a project that fills gaps in the available indicators, with the number of biodiversity-related indicators for the SDGs and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets now reaching 60.
Since 2015, BIP, supported by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), the European Commission, and Switzerland’s Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), has been working to fill gaps in the available indicators for both the SDGs and the Aichi Biodiversity targets. Since the debut of the project, 30 more indicators have been added. Thirteen of these are official SDG indicators, including the Red List Index of trends in the conservation status of species, protected area coverage of important areas for biodiversity, and the Wetland Extent Trends Index. Many of the other indicators are also relevant to one or more of the SDGs and associated targets, including SDGs 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 4 (quality education), 6 (clean water and sanitation), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 10 (reduced inequalities), 11 (sustainable cities and communities), 12 (responsible consumption and production), 13 (climate action), 14 (life below water), 15 (life on land), 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions), and 17 (partnerships for the Goals).
The BIP website has a dedicated web page for each indicator.
BIP has also created a mapping table that helps users identify synergies between indicators for the SDGs and Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The table aims to support users in identifying indicators that are suitable for national use, which can also help countries in reporting processes such as their sixth national reports under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF).
Additionally, the BIP website has a dedicated web page for each indicator. The web pages include, among others, information on the methodology, national use, and alignment with the SDGs and Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The website allows users to browse which indicators fall under certain Targets, SDGs, multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), and themes such as species, agriculture and policy. [Cross-mapping of the Indicators within the Biodiversity Indicators Partnership to Aichi Biodiversity Targets and SDGs] [UNEP Press Release] [BIP Website]