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Biodiversity

An index of intactness

Nature volume 434, pages 32–33 (2005)Cite this article

The global community is committed to reducing the rate of loss of biodiversity, but how can progress be measured? A novel system to tackle the problem may also identify key factors behind the changes.

Setting targets has become an increasingly common part of working life, and one that sometimes seems an unnecessary extra burden. But setting the target is just the beginning: gauging progress can be a major undertaking, and all this work will be in vain if the means to achieve the targets are not in place. In the case of biodiversity, measuring the ways in which different ecosystems are changing has proved a challenge1, but on page 45 of this issue, Scholes and Biggs2 unveil an innovative and practical approach that may also turn out to promote good management.

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Figure 1: Measures of biodiversity.

References

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  1. Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, London, NW1 4RY, UK

    Georgina M. Mace

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  1. Georgina M. Mace
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Mace, G. An index of intactness. Nature 434, 32–33 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/434032a

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