New pre-print on the deployment of genetic indicators in 9 countries
Monitoring status and trends in genetic diversity for the Convention on Biological Diversity: an ongoing assessment of genetic indicators in nine countries
Genetic diversity must be maintained, managed, and monitored to maintain biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. In our pre-print, we describe a project that is currently underway to apply genetic diversity indicators in nine countries for reporting to the Convention on Biological Diversity and other conservation and policy initiatives. These indicators allow an approximation of the status and trends of genetic diversity to inform policy, using existing demographic and geographic information.
“Genetic diversity has already declined substantially due to habitat loss, habitat fragmentation, over-harvest, and other human activities”
In CBD negotiations over the past two years, disagreement and confusion over genetic diversity concepts has been apparent. Truly safeguarding genetic diversity will require clear, precise, science-informed wording in CBD Goals and Targets, and affordable, accessible, and relevant genetic diversity indicators. In our pre-print, we summarize recent significant advancements in indicators that assess status and trends in genetic diversity, and their application at national scales. Specifically, we:
Reiterate the need and purpose of three indicators
Summarize and address concerns from policymakers
Describe ongoing deployment of indicators in 9 countries on 6 continents
Specify indicator calculation, including examples
Address other challenges and describe a roadmap for the uptake and use of genetic diversity indicators, including current and future support resources
“We demonstrate that Parties can successfully and cost-effectively report these genetic diversity indicators with existing biodiversity observation data, and in doing so, better conserve the Earth’s biodiversity.”