Author: Alison Hutchinson

An introduction to the STAR metric for business and policy

This webinar presents the Species Threat Abatement and Restoration (STAR) metric, and discusses how it can be used by policy makers and businesses.

STAR quantifies the potential contribution of actions to abate threats and restore habitat towards the reduction of global species extinction risk in any particular place. STAR is intended as a metric for setting and measuring progress towards science-based species conservation targets, for use by actors across all of society.

The underlying data, assumptions and calculation of STAR are explained, and global STAR results for terrestrials amphibians, birds and mammals are presented.

The webinar also provides an opportunity to ask questions about STAR and discuss its uses, and is an important route to consider current and future developments to ensure STAR meets user needs. 

You can find a recording of the webinar below:

Conserving genetic diversity through National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans

Speaker: Sean Hoban

This webinar establishes that all countries can include genetic diversity as a vital component of biodiversity planning; can design targets, action and policy for genetic diversity; and can monitor and report on genetic diversity.

To do so, the webinar first gives an overview of how Parties, as well as non-state entities, can integrate genetic diversity into their National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPS).  This part of the webinar includes ten simple suggestions based on a review of 21 recent NBSAPs (including 8 since the KM GBF) from around the world. 

Following this, a brief explanation of the genetic diversity indicators, including Headline Indicator A.4 is given. Next, the results from a pilot implementation of the headline indicator in nine countries including several megadiverse countries are discussed.  The results of the indicator show that genetic diversity is declining within many populations worldwide.  They also show that data are available and the indicators are affordable and feasible. 

You can find a recording of the webinar below:

Implementing actions to achieve Target 4 of the Global Biodiversity Framework

Speakers: Phil McGowan, Stuart Butchart, Francesca Ridley

To support focussed and effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiveristy Framework, especially in the light of the failure to make significant progress on the Aichi Biodiversity Targets by 2020, this webinar gives an overview of Goal A and Target 4 and considers what the negotiated wording of these elements mean in practice.

All Targets are important to achieve the species outcomes in Goal A. Target 4 establishes the need for targeted action in addition to reducing threats through actions under Targets 1-3 and 5-7 and identifies outcomes for species to address species extinctions, extinction risk, and population abundance to be achieved by 2050.

We show that focussed action can avert extinctions, as called for by Target 4. The science is available to support both the identification of the main threats driving extinction risk in a country (or other spatial scale) and to then identify species that require action under Target 4. We conclude the webinar by giving an overview of the newly developed STAR app which can contribute to supporting implementation of Target 4 by quantifying assessments of threats towards species and making this information easily accessible.

You can find a recording of the webinar below:

This presentation outlines the species-related ambitions and goals within the Global Biodiversity Framework and gives a broad overview of the requirements and needs to develop strategies for ensuring positive species outcomes. Please find the recording below.

This panel and Q&A forum was held as part of the World Species Congress in May 2024. The panel discussed pathways to more justice-informed conservation approaches in relation to global conservation policy and the newly agreed Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. You can find a recording of the panel below.

The Global Biodiversity Framework Task Force assists with the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework by supporting the development of IUCN position papers and developing information documents for meetings of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Please find below an archive of our policy support at the 26th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-26) and the 4th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-4).

• INF document 19 ‘Guidance on needs related to implementing the monitoring framework of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework‘ was prepared for SBSTTA-26 (2024)

The Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework Task Force contributed to IUCN position papers and information documents as part of the negotiatons on progress towards the Aichi targets, and during the development of the post-2020 biodiversity framework.

• We prepared an information document on: ‘Potential elements, indicators and milestones for a new species-focussed target; this is proposed without prejudice to IUCN’s final position on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework‘ for the 23rd meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice which took place in Montreal, Canada from 25 to 29 November 2019.
• We prepared an information document on: ‘Supporting achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Target 12 of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020‘ for the 22nd meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, which took place in Montreal, Canada from 2 to 7 July 2018.

The Task Force supports the development of the Species Threat Abatement and Restoration Metric (STAR), a tool that can help governments, industry, and civil society identify actions with positive conservation impact for threatened species.

The Task Force has contributed to a range of scientific publications, reports, and tools relating to species conservation. See our archive below.

2024

• Corporate disclosures need a biodiversity outcome focus and regulatory backing to deliver global conservation goals

• Understanding and achieving species  elements in the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework   

2023

• Over half of threatened species require targeted recovery actions to avert human-induced extinction

• Key Biodiversity Areas are proving useful for spatial planning if the criteria are applied correctly

2020

• How many bird and mammal extinctions has recent conservation action prevented?

• A robust goal is needed for species in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

• Global Biodiversity Outlook 5