E2. Expenditure on UK and international biodiversity

Indicator description

Public sector spending on UK biodiversity increased between 2000-1 and 2008-9, from around £257 to £497 million, but this has since fallen to £459 million in 2010-11.  In 2010-11, expenditure was about 5 per cent less than 2009-10 but 79 per cent above the spending in 2000-1.  Over the same period UK GDP increased by 17 per cent.  The indicator is therefore assessed as improving since 2000.

The trend for UK public sector funding on international biodiversity shows an increase between 2000-1 and 2010-11.  The most prominent rise was in 2003-4 with increased contributions to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), followed by a 7 per cent increase in 2004-5.  However, since this peak in 2004-5, there has been a 17 per cent  reduction (at 2010-11 prices) in funding for international biodiversity work.    

Assessment for both measures is by assessing whether the change over the period is greater or less than a 3 per cent rule of thumb (see methodology). 

The GDP (Gross Domestic Product) deflator is a measure of general inflation in the domestic economy – it captures the price changes over a period of time.  The deflator is expressed in terms of an index number.

Relevance

Spending is one way of assessing the priority that is given to biodiversity within Government.  Funding for conservation work is critical to delivery of country biodiversity and environment strategies.  Adequate access to resources is essential for the effective implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity in developing countries as part of more general development aid and poverty alleviation.

The increases in public sector expenditure in the UK should be considered in the context of the funding needed, in tandem with appropriate policy and legislative measures, to a level sufficient to meet UK and international biodiversity targets.  

Background

This indicator is based upon estimates of spending by the public sector, combined with a range of estimates and assumptions about the element relating to UK and international biodiversity, using expert opinion from the relevant organisations wherever possible.  The information is collated by the Environmental Statistics Service in Defra.  A report on the methodology is available:  Indicators of funding of expenditure on biodiversity in the UK, and of UK Government funding on conservation of international biodiversity (see weblinks section).

The information published by the indicator is drawn from a number of sources. The Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew is increasingly involved in the international conservation of endangered plant species as threats to the world's vegetation escalate.  The Global Environment Facility and Global Opportunities Fund are some of the other institutions that channel funds directly to developing countries in order to protect the environment and biodiversity.  In addition, the UK Government provides funding for biodiversity through direct bilateral aid – the Darwin Initiative, the Flagship Species Fund and the Overseas Territories Environment Programme.

Goals and targets

Aichi Targets for which this is a primary indicator

Strategic Goal E. Enhance implementation through planning, knowledge management and capacity building.

Target 20: By 2020, at the latest, the mobilisation of financial resources for effectively implementing the Strategic Plan 2011-2020 from all sources and in accordance with the consolidated and agreed process in the Strategy for Resource Mobilisation should increase substantially from the current levels. This target will be subject to changes contingent to resources needs assessments to be developed and reported by Parties.

Aichi Target for which this is a relevant indicator

Strategic Goal A. Address the underlying causes of biodiversity loss by mainstreaming biodiversity across government and society.

Target 2: By 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems.

Target 3: By 2020, at the latest, incentives, including subsidies, harmful to biodiversity are eliminated, phased out or reformed in order to minimize or avoid negative impacts, and positive incentives for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity are developed and applied, consistent and in harmony with the Convention and other relevant international obligations, taking into account national socio‑economic conditions.

Web links for further information