Connecting Global Priorities Biodiversity and Human Health

Ecosystem Assessment, is a framework that links
biodiversity to human well-being, considering also
institutions and drivers of change (See Figure 1).
Fig.1 In the central panel, boxes and arrows
denote the elements of nature and society that
are at the main focus of the IPBES. In each of
the boxes, the headlines in black are inclusive
categories that should be intelligible and relevant
to all stakeholders involved in IPBES and embrace
the categories of western science (in green) and
equivalent or similar categories according to
other knowledge systems (in blue). The blue and
green categories mentioned here are illustrative.
Solid arrows in the main panel denote influence
between elements; the dotted arrows denote links
that are acknowledged as important, but are not
the main focus of the Platform. The thick, coloured
arrows below and to the right of the central
panel indicate that the interactions between
the elements change over time (horizontal
bottom arrow) and occur at various scales in
space (vertical arrow). Interactions across scales,
including cross-scale mismatches, occur often. The
vertical lines to the right of the spatial scale arrow
indicate that, although IPBES assessments will
be at the supranational – subregional to global –
geographical scales (scope), they will in part build
on properties and relationships acting at finer –
national and subnational – scales (resolution,
in the sense of minimum discernible unit). The
resolution line does not extend all the way to the
global level because, due to the heterogeneous
and spatially aggregated nature of biodiversity,
even the broadest global assessments will be
most useful if they retain finer resolution. This
figure is a simplified version of that adopted
by the Second Plenary of IPBES; it retains all
its essential elements but some of the detailed
wording explaining each of the elements has
been eliminated within the boxes to improve
readability. A full description of all elements and
linkages in the conceptual framework, together
with examples, can be found in Diaz et al. (2015b).
5: Keeping tabs: The need for
monitoring and accountability for
evidence-based indicators at the
intersection of biodiversity and
health
Identifying ecosystems critical for the delivery
of human health benefits and evaluating key
socio-economic variables that affect access to
and delivery of associated goods and services to
communities, particularly vulnerable populations,
is an instrumental step towards the identification
of appropriate policy measures and strategies.
However, the ongoing objective evaluation of
those strategies once measures are in place, is
equally essential.
Monitoring, evaluating and forecasting progress
toward the achievement of national, regional and
global targets at regular intervals against evidencebased
indicators, including threshold values for
critical ecosystem services, such as the availability
and access to food, water and medicines will
be essential to the effective implementation
of strategies. To be effective, monitoring and
evaluation will require considerable strengthening
through more innovative and integrated
approaches. These could include, for example,
the development of robust, cross-cutting
indicators that jointly address human health and
environmental considerations (see, for example,
Dora et al. 2014; Pelletier et al. 2014). Further
guidance for the establishment of national
development plans that simultaneously encourage
cross-sectoral partnerships and stakeholder
engagement are also critical to strengthening and
encouraging more innovative monitoring and
evaluation approaches.
Each of the elements identified above must
be supported by the development of robust
indicators. Many indicators used in biodiversity
conservation and environmental management can
prove useful to health impact assessments, either
to help in the identification of contributing factors
to existing health problems, or areas where health
risks or opportunities may arise.
Connecting Global Priorities: Biodiversity and Human Health
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