A new brief prepared by GRID-Arendal and the UN Environment Programme, in collaboration with the Mountain Research Initiative and the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment, highlights assessment indicators considered important for safeguarding mountain biodiversity and ecosystem integrity in line with previous policy recommendations to elevate mountains in the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.

Effective indicators of mountain biodiversity and ecosystems status and trends are crucial for supporting the goals and targets of the Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Given the uniqueness of biodiversity in mountains, and the relevance of the ecosystem services they deliver for the wellbeing of people worldwide, the need to elevate mountains in the GBF was addressed by previous policy briefs presented at the first and second GBF Open-Ended Working Group meetings.

This new brief complements earlier contributions and supports decision-makers in ongoing Post-2020 GBF discussions by:

  • Identifying indicators in CBD/SBSTTA/24/3Add.13 considered important for safeguarding mountain biodiversity and ecosystem integrity
  • Providing the rationale for the adoption of such indicators at multiple levels
  • Suggesting indicators for further consideration and development

View the brief


This brief was prepared by GRID-Arendal and the UN Environment Programme in collaboration with the Mountain Research Initiative and the Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA). It received financial support from the Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg through the Vanishing Treasures.

The MRI Coordination Office thanks the following members of the mountain research community for their expert reviews: Irasema Alcántara-Ayala, Jake Alexander, Harald Bugmann, Ricardo Grau, Sylvia Haider, Walter Jetz, Jonas Lembrechts, Rob Marchant, Ignacio Palomo, Anibal Pauchard, Martin Price, Roger Sayre, and Tim Seipel. 


Find more information about the policy briefs presented at the first and second GBF Open-Ended Working Group meetings here (OEWG 1, Nairobi) and here (OEWG 2, Rome).  


Cover image by marykehoofdmann from Pixabay.

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