Choosing fit-for-purpose biodiversity impact indicators in agriculture

Abstract

Understanding and acting on biodiversity loss requires robust assessment tools that link biodiversity impacts to land use (LU) change. Here we estimate agriculture’s impact on biodiversity using three approaches —countryside-Species Area Relationship (cSAR), Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) and Species Habitat Index (SHI)— for the Brazilian Cerrado, to assess how indicator choice affects impact assessments and resulting decision-support. All indicators show biodiversity has become increasingly under pressure due to agriculture expansion. Results suggest that metrics are complementary, providing distinctly different insight into biodiversity change drivers and impacts. Meaningful applications of biodiversity indicators therefore require compatibility between focal questions and indicator choice, in terms of the temporal, spatial and ecological perspectives on impact and drivers being offered. ‘Backward-looking’ analyses focused on historical LU transformation and accountability are best served by cSAR and SHI. ‘Forward-looking’ analyses of impact risk hotspots and mitigation of global extinctions are best served by STAR