Global Biodiversity Framework Targets Can Drive Action on Insect Declines, but Lack Robust Indicators to Prove Their Effectiveness.

Insects are the most diverse and functionally important animals on Earth. In at least some regions, terrestrial populations are declining. Despite this, insects are often overlooked in conservation policy, and it is difficult to assess how anthropogenic threats and conservation actions affect insect populations. The Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) aims to reduce pressures on biodiversity, increase conservation efforts, and reverse losses. At the International Congress on Conservation Biology in 2023, we convened a round table of specialist scientists and practitioners in insect ecology and conservation to explore how well the GBF addresses insect declines. We discussed and evaluated: (1) how well GBF targets could deliver for insects, and (2) whether the indicators proposed for monitoring progress would detect changes in the status of insects. We found that although the GBF's targets can drive action for insect recovery, almost none of the indicators can effectively measure progress for insects. We propose four principles to enhance the effectiveness of biodiversity policy for insects, and recommend the establishment of a global working group to develop insect‐focused indicators. If implemented effectively, such indicators could provide evidence of whether restoration and conservation actions are putting us on a path to recovery of global biodiversity.

Project(s)

Priority 1: Ecosystem Stewardship

Funder

Funder name	Awards
Natural Environment Research Council, United Kingdom	NE/S007229/1 - NE/V007173/1 - NE/V006533/1 - NE/V006800/1 - NE/V006886/1 - NE/V007548/1
European Commission, European Union	Grant no. LIFE17 IPE/CZ/00005, Integrated LIFE project for the Natura 2000 network in the Czech Republic
Leverhulme Trust, United Kingdom
Research England, United Kingdom
HORIZON EUROPE Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, European Union	101027920
Isaac Newton Trust, United Kingdom	Early Career Fellowship
Magyar Tudományos Akadémia, Hungary	Sustainable Development and Technologies National Programme
Ministry of Culture and Innovation, Hungary	National Research, Development and Innovation Fund, financed under the KDP-2020 funding scheme (project number KDP-6–3/PALY-2021)