Biodiversity Intactness - GLOBIO Mean Species Abundance

Ecological modelling and land use data

Netherland Environmental Assessment Agency

10-arc-seconds (~300m x 300m at the equator)

The GLOBIO MSA data is available for several years, with the most recent data from

2015 (2020 coming soon).

The MSA estimates the condition of an area's biodiversity compared to a reference area unaffected by human pressures. For example, a MSA score of 4.1 indicates that at this location only 41% of the species abundance present in an undisturbed reference area remains.

Very Low = Score 0 - 2

Low = Score 2 - 4

Moderate = Score 4 - 6

High = Score 6 - 8

Very High = Score 8 - 10

MSA is relevant under CSRD (ESRS E4) as well as under TNFD and SBTN.

≤ 20%

0 - 2

Very Low

20% - 40%

2 - 4

Low

40% - 60%

4 - 6

Moderate

60% - 80%

6 - 8

High

> 80%

8 - 10

Very High

ESRS E4 DR 16 (a) (ii)

breakdown of sites according to ecological status of the areas (with reference to the specific ecosystem baseline level)

ESRS E4 DR 41(b)

disclose with regard to ecosystems condition

ESRS E4 DR 41(b) (i)

metrics for quality of ecosystems relative to a pre-determined reference state

ESRS E4 DR 41(b) (ii)

metrics for multiple species within an ecosystem (...) species richness and abundance indicators (...) against the reference state

ESRS E4 DR 41(b) (iii)

metrics that reflect structural components of condition

ESRS E4 AR 7 (c)

identify current integrity and importance of biodiversity and ecosystem at each location

(a) methodology,
reason for selection,
assumptions,
limitations & uncertainties

Methodology: MSA is estimated based on a global ecological model combining species observations and human pressure data.

Reason for selection: The indicator has been selected to assess the condition of ecosystems and biodiversity. The selected metric is science-based, peer-reviewed, widely used.

Assumptions: The indicator is model based and incorporates several assumptions detailed in Netherland Environmental Assessment Agency.

Limitations & uncertainties:The GLOBIO MSA measure is widely accepted and used for policy work, including the IPBES reports. The measure is referenced in guidelines such as the EU Align Project, TNFD & SBTN. However, the MSA metric is inferred from modelled pressures rather than actual species occurrence observations and the estimates date back multiple years. While suitable for global comparison and prioritization, MSA is best complemented with additional indicators for biodiversity intactness.

(b) scope of metric

The MSA indicator is applied at site level.

(c) biodiversity component of metric

The MSA is mainly an ecosystem-level nature indicator. It estimates ecosystem composition by providing variables on species abundance . Through the use of a species-level output variable MSA also can be considered contributing to the estimation of species-level biodiversity components of population size and extinction risk.

(d) covered geographies

The MSA indicator has global coverage.

(e) integration of ecological thresholds

The MSA indicator does not relate to a specific planetary boundary although the model integrates several human pressures that relate to planetary boundaries, land-system change in particular.

(f) frequency of monitoring, baseline condition and period

The MSA indicator is based on monitoring data up to 2020. Official updates of the indicator remain to be confirmed.

(g) data type (primary, secondary, modelled, expert judgement

The MSA indicator relies on modelled data.

Relevance

✅

GLOBIO MSA is a biodiversity state of nature indicator aligned with SBTN methodology.

Representative

✅

GLOBIO MSA data represents a close fit with the SBTN characterization of biodiversity state of nature indicators and is appropriate to be applied under Step1: Assess and Step 2: Interpret & Prioritize.

Spatial and Temporal Resolution

✅

The GLOBIO MSA indicator is provided at the spatial resolution of 10-arc-seconds (~300m x 300m at the equator). The GLOBIO MSA data is available for several years, with the most recent data from 2020.

Stability and Preservation

✅

GLOBIO MSA data sets are likely to be maintained and preserved long-term as they are provided by the Netherland Environmental Assessment Agency and are widely used in policy contexts.

Accessibility

✅

The GLOBIO MSA data is readily accessible online.

Interpretability

✅

The GLOBIO MSA indicator is sufficiently interpretable and generates an appropriate input for the SBTN methodology.

Coverage

✅

GLOBIO MSA has global coverage.

Authoritative and Accurate

✅

GLOBIO MSA data is widely recognized as an authoritative indicator for large-scale biodiversity and ecosystem assessments.