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Using the Species Habitat Index (SHI) to Assess Habitat Changes and Conservation Gaps
Arce-Plata, Maria Isabel; Norden, Natalia; Guillaume, Laroc; Lord, Jean-Michel; Poisot, Timothée
To achieve the goals of the KM-GBF, biodiversity science must align research efforts with measuring indicators to track progress. One indicator proposed to support some of the main indicators is the Species Habitat Index (SHI), which evaluates changes in habitat and connectivity relative to a baseline. Country-specific SHI values are accessible via the Map of Life platform. For Canada, this platform shows SHI values for 422 species, with a 1% habitat loss between 2001 and 2021.
Customized analyses can be conducted using tools like Bon in a Box, which evaluate habitat changes for regions in a Country. For instance, we can run a test for 76 forest species in Québec, for which 40% of its forest habitat has been lost.
In another example, I used the index to measure changes in the habitat of 757 species of the Tropical Dry Forest in Colombia. Between 2000 and 2020, 12 to 20% of the habitat and connectivity of this ecosystem has been lost. We found that only 12% of the remaining habitat is protected under some type of conservation measurement.
Tools like Bon in a Box bridge scientific research and policy, enabling rapid evaluations of SHI through forest cover changes and other indicators. However, the methods used to measure SHI can vary depending on data sources, introducing uncertainties. While these metrics provide valuable insights into habitat conditions, further refinement is needed to improve accuracy and reliability.
