Results from the first assessment of the Biodiversity Indicator Program

The NSW Biodiversity Outlook Report presents results on the status and trends of biodiversity and ecological integrity at regional and statewide scales.

Results of the first assessment of the Biodiversity Indicator Program are available in a Biodiversity Outlook Report (NSW Biodiversity Outlook Report: Results from the Biodiversity Indicator Program: First assessment). The Biodiversity Outlook Report includes results on a suite of indicators measuring different aspects of biodiversity and ecological integrity at regional and statewide scales.

The technical method identifies five themes of indicators: two for biodiversity and three for ecological integrity. Within themes, indicators are grouped under families. This first NSW Biodiversity Outlook Report presents report cards (showing results for indicators) and case studies.

Diagram showing the hierarchy of classes, themes and indicator families in the Biodiversity Indicator Program

Supplemental report cards

Since the publication of the first Biodiversity Outlook Report, new and updated indicators have been developed. Results of these indicators are published as stand-alone report cards that supplement the Biodiversity Outlook Report. The report cards will also be included in the next version of the Biodiversity Outlook Report.

An assessment of the effect of the 2019–20 bushfires

New South Wales experienced extensive bushfires throughout spring and summer 2019–20. The Environment, Energy and Science Group has released the NSW Fire and the Environment 201920 Summary of post-fire analyses. This assessment uses mapping and modelling to investigate where fire events coincide with a suite of environmental and landscape values.

Indicators developed for the NSW Biodiversity Outlook Report, ecological condition, ecological carrying capacity and persistence of ecosystems, were analysed post-fire. Results are included in the Summary. Further details of the results, as well as the biodiversity and landscape metrics used to compile the information in this Summary, will be included in the Fire and the Environment 2019-20 Technical Report. This report is scheduled to be released shortly. 

Supporting information and data

Each of the report cards in the NSW Biodiversity Outlook Report is supported by an implementation report. These peer-reviewed reports provide technical detail on exactly how indicators were calculated, allowing anyone with technical expertise to reproduce the indicators. For each implementation report, there is also a data package, which provides core data and computer code supporting the indicators. Data packages are available for download from the Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data (SEED) Portal.

Providing full access to our data and methods ensures that our results are reproducible and allows for independent assessment. Sound and defensible science is essential for evidence-based decision-making. Find out more on the Our work webpage.

Tree diagram showing relationship between the Biodiversity Outlook Report, Method and implementation reports