The term “indicator” is derived from the Latin “indicare”, which means to announce, point out or indicate. A more complete definition could be formulated as a parameter, or a value derived from parameters, which points to/provides information about/describes the state of a phenomenon/ environment/area with a significance extending beyond that directly associated with a parameter value. So, in essence, indicators are useful because they give useful information about the state of more complex phenomena. More importantly, indicators give data added value by converting them into information that is of direct use to the decision-maker, helping to shed light on a problem. They have become well-established and are widely used in many fields, from economics to ecology to health, and can be used at the global, regional, national, local or neighbourhood levels, as well as at the sectoral level.

Indicators of ecosystem services

There is a growing interest, and a need, to develop better indicators of ecosystem services, especially in light of the advent of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). People everywhere depend on ecosystems for their wellbeing (as shown by the findings of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) and many other studies). Given the obvious importance of ecosystem services to human wellbeing, the ability to report trends in the quantity and quality of ecosystem services is essential to knowing whether or not these services are being used in a sustainable manner. However, most ecosystem services have few, if any, suitable indicators to monitor the actual delivery of services.

Some innovative work on ecosystem service indicators is being driven by an alliance of researchers, UNEP-WCMC, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) secretariat, World Resources Institute (WRI), the IUCN Commission on Ecosystem Management (IUCN-CEM) and The Resilience and Development Programme (SwedBio) at Stockholm Resilience Centre. This network has been considering the role of ecosystem service indicators (amongst others) within a revised CBD framework and carrying out a series of workshops and reports that aim to progress the development of ecosystem service indicators on global and sub-global scales. Indicators for different services have been grouped according to a 5-step classification – Condition, Function, Service, Benefit and Impact. For example, indicators for the ecosystem service pollination could be the abundance and distribution of pollinators (condition), quantity and diversity of pollinated plant products (service), improved crop yields (benefits) and reduction in crop losses (impacts). Here are links to two reports that neatly summarize some the work on ecosystem service indicators this network has been involved in.

A broad network of organizations are now collaborating with UNEP-WCMC to develop and test these ecosystem service indicators at a range of scales worldwide and this work is feeding into the IPBES. In addition, indicator development and ecosystem assessment training workshops in Africa and Latin America have raised awareness of relevant tools and processes at the national scale. These in turn have heightened demand for national and regional capacity development and lesson sharing on indicator development and use.

In a related process, the WRI has a report called Measuring Nature’s Benefits: A Preliminary Roadmap for Improving Ecosystem Service Indicators - which is also a good resource. The paper synthesizes WRI’s analysis of how effectively the ecosystem service indicators used in the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment can support policy and development aid decisions, and provides recommendations for further developing and using ecosystem service indicators.  In addition, WRI has developed an online ecosystem service indicator database. The database compiles in an accessible format the ecosystem service metrics and indicators used in ecosystem assessments.

Indicators as means of empowering indigenous people

Indicators could beside their main role for measuring trends of ecosystem services in certain areas, be seen as valuable tool for visualizing what is important for local stakeholders in certain contexts. As an example, the development of indicators for traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use of biodiversity within the CBD, has engaged indigenous peoples and local communities on the ground in formulating what is of main importance for them in their life, and for maintaining sustainable livelihood in their lands and territories. In that respect, the processes of formulating indicators can also be a means of empowerment for people, and for take action to strengthen these aspects.

One example is how the Tebtebba Foundation, an indigenous organization in the Philippines, with wide outreach globally, and one of SwedBio partners, is leading the International Indigenous forum of biodiversity Indicators working group. The indicators developed in that context illustrate priorities for indigenous peoples and local livelihoods. Furthermore, while developing these indicators, important issues arise in dialogue with local people, such as why are indigenous languages important for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity; why are we loosing languages, and with them the knowledge embedded in their use, and the cultural practices associated.