Adequacy of Biodiversity Observation Systems to support the CBD 2020 Targets

This report constitutes the first attempt to assess the adequacy of global observation systems for the monitoring of biodiversity, specifically in relation to the information needs of the twenty ?Aichi targets? defined by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) for the period 2011?2020. The report was prepared, at the request of the CBD, by the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) in collaboration with a range of biodiversity-related organisations, and is based on inputs from over 120 specialists. Strategic goal A of the CBD addresses the drivers of biodiversity change. The global adequacy of existing systems for quantifying Targets 1, 2 and 3 under this goal, relating to public awareness, the valuation of biodiversity and the presence of biodiversity-damaging policies respectively, is low. The presence of some national or regional observation system and databases, and work in non-biodiversity fields suggest that an adequate observation system could be achieved for these targets within five years. The fourth target on sustainable consumption already has some global observation systems, with potential for improvement. Goal B contains five targets related to the state of biodiversity. All have significant global-scale observation systems, typically with national or better resolution, already in place. There are deficiencies in the evenness of global coverage and data quality, and some of the observations are too narrow in scope, but in the opinion of the experts, fit-for-purpose adequacy is technically achievable in all cases if sufficient resources are made available. Goal C contains three targets that look at the effectiveness of actions taken to protect biodiversity. Global observation systems with national resolution exist for all three. Ongoing, but relatively minor and well-understood improvements to the observations are needed to bring them to full adequacy, especially with respect to accompanying data in Target 11 (on protected areas) and taxonomic coverage in Targets 12 (threatened species) and 13 (genetic diversity of valuable species). Goal D contains seven somewhat diverse targets relating to the benefits derived from biodiversity. Target 14 (ecosystem services) does not yet have a globally adequate observation system, but is rapidly working towards one for key services. Target 15 seeks to relate biodiversity and climate change in both directions. Observation systems are technically feasible and some global-scale databases exist that could serve as pilots. Goal E contains Targets 16 to 20 which largely relate to the CBD mechanisms. No observation systems currently exist, but achieving adequacy should in principle be relatively straightforward. In some cases (e.g. Target 16 on access and benefit-sharing) the basis for an information-gathering system are planned to emerge from the coming into force of a protocol. In others, the information should be part of national submissions to the CBD, but an information extraction process and database mechanism are yet to be developed. There is fair alignment between the biodiversity observation needs determined from the Aichi targets, those derived from the GEO BON implementation plan, and those identified by the biodiversity observation community as essential biodiversity variables, with some exceptions. The GEO BON and essential variables approaches underemphasise social, economic and policy observations, while the Aichi targets call for less detail and sustained accuracy of biological observations than is required by the research community.