ZSL #015 Biodiversity indicators: getting the measure of biodiversity and what it all means

Monni explores the ins and outs of biodiversity indicators with IOZ's Indicator and Assessments Research Unit. Biodiversity indicators are measures of how biodiversity is doing worldwide, and we see them reported in the media: the Living Planet Index, for example, was recently published as part of the 2018 Living Planet Report and shows that populations of vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish) have decline on average by 60% since 1970. How do such metrics come about and why do we need them? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Who are the people behind these biodiversity indicators? And… are spiders "huggable"? You've come to the right place to find out.