SDGs: Indicator 15.1.2 | Land Portal

Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type

 
 

Last updated on 1 February 2022

This indicator is currently classified as Tier I. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the Custodian agency for this indicator.

Unit of measure: Mean percentage of each terrestrial and freshwater Key Biodiversity Area covered by (i.e. overlapping with) protected areas and/or Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures

Sub Indicators: Average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by protected areas (%)Average proportion of Terrestrial Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by protected areas (%)

 

Why is this indicator important?

To bring the global decline in biodiversity to a halt and secure a long-term and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater natural resources, it is crucial to safeguard important sites. Establishing protected areas is an essential mechanism to reach this objective. SDG Indicator 15.1.2 measures progress toward the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems and their services, in accordance with international agreements.

 

How is the indicator measured and monitored?

SDG indicator 15.1.2 measures the proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type. Data derived from a spatial overlap between digital polygons for protected areas from the World Database on Protected Areas, digital polygons for Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs) from the World Database on OECMs, and digital polygons for terrestrial and freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (from the World Database of Key Biodiversity Areas, including Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Alliance for Zero Extinction sites, and other Key Biodiversity Areas) is the basis for the calculation of the indicator. Protected areas are defined by IUCN as clearly defined geographical spaces, recognized, dedicated and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural values.

According to the metadata document, the value of the indicator at a given point in time, based on data from the year of protected area establishment recorded in the World Database on Protected Areas, is computed as the mean percentage of each Key Biodiversity Area currently recognized. Disaggregation is available by national, regional, and global levels and ecosystem types. The indicator does not encompass degazetted sites that are not listed in the World Database of Protected Areas, as well as ‘proposed’ or ‘not reported’ sites and protected areas lacking digital boundaries.

International organizations responsible for global monitoring are the United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), BirdLife International (BLI), and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

 

By Anne Hennings, peer-reviewed by UNEP.

 

Official indicator data

Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type. This dataset provides a percentage of the mean proportion of Key Biological Areas (KBA) that are protected for their environmental values in both terrestrial ecosystems and freshwater ecosystems.

 

* Select "year" below to see the most recent data for more countries.

** To refresh the map with other official data, use the ’Select an indicator field’. Type in the other  indicators titles, as given in the table below.

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The data series presented here measures the average proportion of Freshwater Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) covered by protected areas (%).

Measurement unit: 
Percentage (%)

Other related indicators on Land Portal

Other related data: In addition to the official indicator data, the following indicators provide information related to terrestrial and marine protected areas and community or indigneous land rights in protected areas.

 

This indicator measures the proportion of marine protected areas as a share of the total territorial waters in a country.

Measurement unit: 
% of territorial waters

This indicator measures the proportion of terrestrial and marine protected areas as a share of the total territorial area, including territorial waters, in a country.

Measurement unit: 
% of total territorial area

This indicator measures the proportion of terrestrial protected areas as a share of the total land area in a country.

Measurement unit: 
% of total land area

This indicator is part of the set of Indicators of the Legal Security of Indigenous and Community Lands estimated by LandMark (http://www.landmarkmap.org/)

Measurement unit: 
Index (1; 4)

This indicator is part of the set of Indicators of the Legal Security of Indigenous and Community Lands estimated by LandMark (http://www.landmarkmap.org/)

Measurement unit: 
Index (1; 4)

SDG Land Tracker

Goal 15: Life on land
Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests, wetlands, mountains and drylands, in line with obligations under international agreements

Indicator details

Status: 
Tier 1

The Indicator is conceptually clear, has an internationally established and available methodology and standards, and that data is regularly produced by countries for at least 50 per cent of countries and of the population in every region where the indicator is relevant.

Custodian agency: 
UNEP

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global environmental authority that sets the global environmental agenda, promotes the coherent implementation of the environmental dimension of sustainable development within the United Nations system and serves as an authoritative advocate for the global environment.


UNEP work encompasses:


  • Assessing global, regional and national environmental conditions and trends

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