An inventory of biodiversity data sources for conservation monitoring

Table 1. Summary of key data sources for monitoring biodiversity and their potential uses for conservation agencies. Lead agency Data source Useful data available Potential uses for conservation agencies BirdLife International World Database on Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) Coverage of KBAs and key species within them Map KBAs in the agency’s priority countries/ ecoregions and overlay with protected areas and threatened species distributions to identify priority sites; Monitor proportion of KBAs protected over time. FAO–UN Food and Agriculture Organisation Fisheries and Aquaculture database Multiple fisheries datasets. Includes volume of fish catches landed by country or territory, by species or a higher taxonomic level, by FAO major fishing areas, and year for all commercial, industrial, recreational and subsistence purposes. Monitor fisheries offtake in any marine sites of interest to the agency or for any target fish species. IUCN–International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Geographical range, estimated population trends (or relative abundance), habitat use, life history traits, use and trade, threats, conservation actions in place and conservation actions needed Create a Red List Index for the agency’s priority countries or track the status of priority species. NOAA—US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Coral Reef Watch Daily global 5km satellite Coral Bleaching Heat Stress Alert Area Identify (daily) marine sites at highest risk of coral bleaching. UNEP-WCMC (UN Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre)

CITES Trade Database Number of individual plants and animals traded, exporting and importing countries Track legal or illegal trade in species relevant to the agency, (perhaps displayed like the UNEP-WCMC Big Cat Trade Dashboard). Global Database on Protected Area Management Effectiveness Protected area management effectiveness Monitor the effectiveness of protected areas, showing improvements over time as a result of the agency’s support; Compare management effectiveness across different categories of PA to highlight capacity gaps. IBAT—Integrated Biodiversity Assessment Tool Threatened species distribution and status in relation to KBAs and protected areas; proximity of business activities to threatened species, KBAs and PAs. Map KBAs in the agency’s priority countries/ ecoregions and overlay with protected areas and threatened species distributions to identify priority sites; Monitor proportion of KBAs or key threatened species range protected over time. Protected Planet–World Database on Protected Areas Protected area status and coverage Map protected areas of interest and overlay species data. Wetlands Extent Trends Trends in wetland area over time Show trends in wetland area over time in priority agency sites/countries/ecoregions. University of British Columbia Marine Trophic Index Fishing levels in economic zones by country and by fish taxa; time-series data on MTI for large marine ecosystems Monitor the Marine Trophic Index of the agency’s priority seascapes to assess trends in the impacts of fishing (down the food web).

Wetlands International International Waterbird Census Database Waterbird populations (distribution and abundance) Show trends in waterbird populations in the agency’s priority sites/countries/ecoregions. World Resources Institute Climate Watch Greenhouse gas emissions; climate risk, vulnerability and readiness scores Show trends in national, regional or global emissions and climate risks. Global Forest Watch Forest cover changes, carbon stored and emitted from forests, active fires and (in develop-ment) commodity supply chain impacts on forests. Monitor forest cover changes in the agency’s priority sites/countries/ecoregions; the map function could show deforestation frontiers. Active fires could also be mapped for the agency’s areas of interest. Resource Watch Access to datasets relating to Cities, Climate, Energy, Food, Forests, Ocean, Society, Water The agency could become a WRI partner to help develop and use the platform, enhancing the biodiversity elements and their value to conservationists Zoological Society of London Living Planet Index Time-series data for populations of mammal, bird, fish, reptile and amphibian species Create an index of trends in vertebrate populations in the agency’s priority sites/countries/ecoregions or track the population levels of priority species. Conservation agencies are government, community and NGO entities or projects, especially those working in high-biodiversity countries. Data sources would also be

relevant for some businesses striving for sustainability. All data sources listed are openly accessible or available on request (although IBAT requires a paid subscription for business users). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242923.t001 PLOS ONE Biodiversity data sources PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0242923 December 2, 2020 5 / 14