Indicators are needed to evaluate progress towards the global and regional 2010 biodiversity targets. The pilot project 'Biodiversity Trends and Threats in Europe' developed and tested one such indicator, a species trend indicator, for Pan-Europe. For this test existing data were used, brought together by a group of international, species-oriented Non Governmental organisations (NGO's).

Objectives.

The project  had the following objectives:

1. To develop a methodology for a policy relevant and scientifically sound species population trend indicator for Pan-Europe. The indicator should be suitable for evaluation of progress towards the 2010 target;

2. To review the data availability and quality for the development of regional indicators; 

3. To test the indicator by using the methodology and the data; 

4. To identify requirements for elaboration of existing monitoring and surveillance initiatives;

5. To assess potential for national-level implementation within Europe and in other regions. 

Organisation

The project ran from September 2002 till September 2004 and was coordinated by the UNEP World Conservation and Monitoring Centre (WCMC) in collaboration with the Netherlands Environment Assessment Agency (MNP). The project also closely collaborated with the European Topic Centre on Nature Protection and Biodiversity in Paris (ETC/NPB) of the European Environment Agency (EEA) in Copenhagen. The Department of Food Environment and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the Swiss Agency for the Environment, Forests and Landscape (SAEFL) and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (MNP) sponsored the project.

Background

In response to global concern over the rapid loss of global biodiversity, the 6^th  Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted a global target to significantly reduce the rate of biodiversity loss by 2010. The EU Sustainable Development Strategy and various other European Union policies set similar or more ambitious biodiversity goals. On the Pan-European level the Ministerial 'Environment for Europe' process adopted a resolution on halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. 

The CBD identified a series of biodiversity indicators to evaluate progress towards the 2010 target. In the EU a set of 15 (highly similar) headline indicators was recommended by the EU Biodiversity Expert Group and its Ad Hoc Working Group on Indicators, Monitoring and Assessment, and the Malahide stakeholder conference. In June 2004 the Environment Council of the EU adopted this set. 

Currently these indicators are elaborated on the Pan-European level in the project Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators for the 2010 target (SEBI). Both the CBD decision and the European documents recommend an indicator of trends in abundance and distribution of selected species as one of the indicators for immediate testing. This is the type of indicator this project focussed on. 

Species trend indicators can be used to record individual species' population changes. Composite species trend indicators, which give an idea of the combined trend across multiple species, have been increasingly widely applied. In addition to the global-scale Living Planet Index there are several instances of the successful implementation of such indicators, principally at national scales. Examples are the UK headline indicator of wild bird populations and species trend indices from the Netherlands. The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) has built on its experience with the British bird index to develop the Pan-European Common Bird Index or farmland and forest birds.

See the bottom of this page for relevant links to the mentioned meetings and documents. 

Data

Data for the project were mobilised by international, species-oriented NGOs:

• BirdLife International;
• The Dutch Butterfly Conservation;
• The Large Carnivore Initiative Europe and 
• The Large Herbivore Foundation.        

With their networks of experts and institutes in (nearly) every European country, these organisations are very well and uniquely placed to provide access to data on the trends in their focal species.

The project database currently contains over 2800 records of species population trends, covering 47 (nearly all) Pan-European countries. The data are organised by EUNIS habitat type, biogeographical region and country and cover the period 1970-2000. A list of species can be downloaded here.

We would like to see these data used by others, for example as a basis for further development of species trend indicators on the European scale or as an input to country-level indicators. For use by third parties, permission from the data suppliers is usually needed. If you are interested in using the data, please contact the project coordinator (see below).  

Results

Preliminary results and lessons learned from the project have been presented at the meeting 'Development of plan and guidelines for indicators and monitoring to help achieve the 2010 target for biodiversity in Europe'   of EIONET, IWG BIO-MIN and PEBLDS, at the EEA in Copenhagen, 21-23 April 2004. 

The following documentation with detailed information on the methodology, data, results, discussion and recommendations of the project is available.

• A technical report:"Biodiversity Trends and Threats in Europe; development and test of a species trend indicator" 
• A scientific paper, as presented at the Royal Society discussion meeting 'Beyond extinction rates: monitoring wild nature for the 2010 target' (London, 19-20 July 2004). 
• NGO reports to the data, including metadata, on 
  
  - Bird Population Trends and Threats in Europe 
  
  - Trends for Butterly Species in Europe 
  
  - Status and Trends for Large Carnivores in Europe
  
  - Report on large herbivores (available on request)             

Contact information

Links

• The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
• The CBD target on reducing Biodiversity loss
• The EU sustainable development Strategy (PDF)
• The EU Biodiversity Expert group
• The Environment for Europe process
• The Resolution on halting biodiversity loss
• The project Streamlining European Biodiversity Indicators for the 2010 target (SEBI 2010)  
• The WWF Living Planet Index
• The Pan-European Common Bird Index
• Examples of Species Trend Indexes in the Netherlands