Policy-response towards achieving the biodiversity targets – 2010 and beyond: research questions for developing indicators to assess progress

Triggered by the unprecedented loss of biodiversity, the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted the 2010 biodiversity target, that is, “to achieve, by 2010, a signifi cant reduction of the current rate of biodiversity loss at the global, regional, and national level, as a contribution to poverty alleviation and to the benefi t of all life on Earth”. This target is now being revised as a post-2010 target. Whatever the target may, be- 2010 or beyond, the challenge step is to put mechanisms in place to track progress towards the targets. There is a large body of trend indicators as well as response indicators for assessing progress towards the target. In this paper, based on a conceptual framework and available information, we reviewed the existing scenario on the biodiversity targets, which resulted in a set of criteria and a set of policy-relevant research questions to be further developed as policy-response indicators for assessing progress that the countries are making towards achieving the biodiversity targets. The criteria and research questions are grouped under four policy areas: implementation mechanism of global biodiversity conventions at the national level; integration of biodiversity into policies and programs of other sectors; public awareness and support, and availability of resources to work towards the targets. These indicators need to be measured at national level and monitored globally.