Calculation of Biodiversity Gains in Agrarian Landscapes

The methodology developed by Fundación Global Nature aims to establish a robust, verifiable, and comparable system for projecting and quantifying biodiversity gains or losses in agrarian ecosystems resulting from specific management practices aligned with corporate needs. This approach is geographically flexible, provided that the intervention site is located within an agrarian ecosystem. It is based on the Biodiversity Matrix, a proprietary tool that quantifies biodiversity changes using a standardized set of biodiversity metrics (biodiversity groups). Results are expressed as percentage changes and translated into Biodiversity Units per hectare per year (BU ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), where each unit represents a 1% increase or decrease in the aggregated biodiversity indicators. The methodology provides detailed guidance on what to measure, when and how to measure it, the appropriate measurement scale, and the conditions under which data should be collected. It also defines procedures for data aggregation to ensure that observed biodiversity gains or losses accurately reflect changes in land use and management, rather than being influenced by external variables typical of dynamic agrarian systems, such as crop variability, soil conditions, water use, climate, or broader landscape features. Two implementation pathways are предусмотрed: short-term projects (1–5 years), focused on assessing biodiversity gains from specific interventions, and long-term projects (20+ years), aimed at consolidating and potentially monetizing biodiversity outcomes linked to land management practices. This framework is grounded in the concept of Biodiversity for Food and Agriculture (BFA), acknowledging both the dependence of agricultural systems on ecosystem services and their role in driving biodiversity loss. It responds to current limitations in biodiversity assessment, including the lack of standardized data and the prevalence of “carbon tunnel vision” in sustainability strategies. By enabling farm-level measurement through science-based indicators, the methodology complements international initiatives such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, supporting greater transparency, reducing investment risk, and facilitating the integration of biodiversity into agricultural and financial decision-making.