Target 19
Strategic Goal E: Target 19 – Sharing information and knowledge 117
1 2
TARGET ELEMENTS
1. Biodiversity knowledge, science and technologies improved 2. Biodiversity knowledge, science and technologies shared
(GEO BON), along with associated processes and tools for their application, has helped to define the components of biodiversity that must be monitored and measured in order to study, report and manage biodiversity change. The variables are grouped into six classes, measuring genetic composition, species populations, species traits, community composition, ecosystem function and ecosystem structure.8 Biodiversity Observation Networks are being established in the Asia-Pacific region, the Arctic, Europe and throughout the Americas, as well as thematic networks for marine, freshwater and soil biodiversity.
The growth in the availability of data and infor-mation on biodiversity is demonstrated by a number of metrics. For example, the number of species assessed for extinction risk in the IUCN Red List has doubled in the past decade, passing 120,000 species during 2020. Nevertheless, the Red List assessments still only covers 6% of described species (Figure 19.1).
The number of species occurrence records freely accessible through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) passed one billion
during 2018, and stood at more than 1.4 billion by May 2020, a seven-fold increase over the decade (Figure 19.2). Such data are widely used in research relating to conservation, impacts of climate change, invasive alien species, food security and human health, among other policy-relevant areas.9 Nevertheless, this data is still strongly biased towards animal species, especially birds and higher plants, and many of the most diverse ecosystems, especially in the tropics, are still greatly under-represented.10 The Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), which specializes in mobilizing data to support research and policy on marine biodiversity, provided access to nearly 60 million occurrence records relating to more than 131,000 species in 2020, compared with 22 million records in 2010.11
Emerging technologies are greatly enhancing capacity to explore and understand biodiversity. The use of environmental DNA (eDNA) and metage-nomic sampling enables monitoring of biodiversity without observation or collection of individual organisms. The Barcode of Life Data System (BOLD) has established a library of more than half a million Figure 19.1. Growth in the number of species assessed through the IUCN Red List7
2002 2001
2000 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Number of assessed species
Number of assessed species Number of species assessed as threatened
0%
Proportion of known species assessed
Proportion of known species assessed
Status
RELEVANT SDG TARGET
public ‘Barcode Index Numbers’, clustering genetic sequences into units corresponding with known species, thus helping with identification to support a range of research and policy applications.13 Artificial intelligence is already supporting species recognition through citizen science platforms such as iNaturalist, and is being applied to support near real-time monitoring of wildlife through images captured by camera traps.14 Bioacoustic monitoring and satellite-based animal tracking are among a range of other technological applications enabling rapid expansion of the data available to support biodiversity knowledge.
A current challenge related to the development of biodiversity knowledge is the lack of socio-economic data relevant to biodiversity, including gender-specific data. Such gaps can lead to misleading information and compromise effective management. For example, a review of small-scale fisheries found that the absence of quantitative
data on the catch size of women fishers led to an underestimate of the total catch, and of the diversity of animals and habitats targeted by fishers.15
The majority of NBSAPS (84%) contain targets related to Aichi Biodiversity Target 19. Of the Parties that have assessed progress towards their national targets, almost half are on track to reach (47%) or exceed (1%) them. Most others (46%) have made some progress towards their targets and only 7% report no progress. However, fewer than a third of national targets are similar to (28%) or exceed (1%) the scope and level of ambition of the Aichi Target. Few targets address the sharing of biodiversity information and technology, or its application. Of the reporting Parties, fewer than a fifth (15%) have national targets with similar scope and ambition to the Aichi Biodiversity Target and are on track to meet them (see bar chart).16 Target 17.18 - By 2020, enhance
capacity-building support to developing countries...
to increase significantly the availability of high-quality, timely and reliable data...
Figure 19.2. Growth in GBIF-mediated species occurrence records12
2011 2010
2009 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Occurrence records Number of species with occurrence records
Number of species with occurrence records
Number of occurrence records Proportion of species occurrence
records in each kingdom, 2020
Plantae (27%) Fungi (7%) Other
(4%)
Animalia (62%)
Mobilization of open-access data through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). The lines show the number of species occurrence records over time, and the number of species having occurrence records.
119 Strategic Goal E: Target 19 – Sharing information and knowledge
0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%
The colour bars show the percentage of Parties reporting a given level of progress towards their national targets. (Blue: exceeds target; Green: on track; Yellow: some progress; Red: no change;
Purple: moving away from target). The intensity of the colour indicates alignment of national targets with the Aichi Target (Darker colours indicate close alignment).
Assessment of progress towards national targets
Box 19.1. Examples of country experiences and national progress
ɠ Cambodia: In order to improve the accessibility and sharing of biodiversity information a web portal was created in 2018 which brings together information relevant to the three Rio Conventions. The information in the portal is based around key indicators. Data gathered through the portal is used to populate the national clearing house and support the work of focal points to the Rio Conventions as well as help to raise awareness of biodiversity, its values and its status and trends generally.17
ɠ Canada: The NatureWatch programme brings together several citizen based monitoring programmes, including progammes related to frogs, ice, plants, worms, milkweed, and Arctic wildlife. The progamme was initially launched in 2000, but since 2014 has been significantly expanding through engagement with new partners and collaborations, including partnerships with the National Hockey League, eco-tourism companies, Inuit youth groups, primary school teachers, Scouts Canada and the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology.18
ɠ Malawi: Through the Mapping Biodiversity Priorities Project, the country is conducting spatial biodiversity assessments and engaging stakeholders to identify and develop evidence related to trade-offs and policy impacts in 36 different sectors. As part of the project, which is being supported through the Japan Biodiversity Fund, the country is developing map products and identifying mainstreaming opportunities with relevant sectors.19
Box 19.2. Community-based biodiversity monitoring
The role of indigenous peoples and local communities in monitoring the status, trends and threats to biodiversity is being increasingly recognized. For example:
ɠ Guatemala: Indigenous communities monitor community forests for forest health and for endangered birds, mammals and plants. They maintain a community-based monitoring and information system (CBMIS) that tracks status, trends, cultural values and practices associated with threatened species, and provides information to support forest management.20
ɠ Russian Federation: The Bikin National Park is the largest protected natural forest in Eurasia’s pre-temperate zone. The park was created with the joint objectives of preserving and restoring biodiversity, and of protecting the forest culture of the indigenous peoples of this territory - the Udege and the Nanai. 114 people work in the park, of whom 70 are indigenous. Indigenous park employees undertake various tasks, including community-based monitoring which makes use of traditional knowledge, practices and rituals together with modern technologies and information systems.21