Species: Total (PI7728)

This metric is intended to capture the richness of species in an area managed directly or indirectly by the organization. For aquatic biodiversity, the Ocean Data Viewer by Ocean+ (see https://data.unep-wcmc.org/ and https://oceanplus.org/) includes various spatial datasets, such as the distribution of coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrasses.

Organizations may find emerging methods such as e-DNA and bioacoustics particularly useful for this measure – while data analysis requires specialized training, data collection can be done at the project level by laypersons.

This metric may be used in combination with Species Conservation Status (PD6429) to quantify the number of species present that are in threatened, endangered, and other conservation statuses. See Species Conservation Status (PD6429) for further information and data sources.

Organizations are encouraged, albeit with caution, to embrace innovative measurement approaches to improve accuracy of this measure. Interesting work to standardize data and measurement approaches is available from:

-European Business & Biodiversity Platform’s workstreams on methods (https://ec.europa.eu/environment/biodiversity/business/workstreams/methods/index_en.htm)

-WWF (2021, https://wwfint.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/wwf_assessing_portfolio_impacts_final.pdf)

• Pioneers (with an explicit focus on the financial sector).

Investors are strongly encouraged to contextualize their projects – and ideally select projects – based on broader, country- or region-level biodiversity and landscape assessments focused on site irreplaceability. Viewing biodiversity through the lens of a systematic conservation plan enables more efficient, impact goal-oriented management decisions.