Abstract
The 196 parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will soon agree to a post-2020 global framework for conserving the three elements of biodiversity (genetic, species, and ecosystem diversity) while ensuring sustainable development and benefit sharing. As the most significant global conservation policy mechanism, the new CBD framework has far-reaching consequences- it will guide conservation actions and reporting for each member country until 2050. In previous CBD strategies, as well as other major conservation policy mechanisms, targets and indicators for genetic diversity (variation at the DNA level within species, which facilitates species adaptation and ecosystem function) were undeveloped and focused on species of agricultural relevance. We assert that, to meet global conservation goals, genetic diversity within all species, not just domesticated species and their wild relatives, must be conserved and monitored using appropriate metrics. Building on suggestions in a recent Letter in Science (Laikre et al., 2020) we expand argumentation for three new, pragmatic genetic indicators and modifications to two current indicators for maintaining genetic diversity and adaptive capacity of all species, and provide guidance on their practical use. The indicators are: 1) the number of populations with effective population size above versus below 500, 2) the proportion of populations maintained within species, 3) the number of species and populations in which genetic diversity is monitored using DNA-based methods. We also present and discuss Goals and Action Targets for post-2020 biodiversity conservation which are connected to these indicators and underlying data. These pragmatic indicators and goals have utility beyond the CBD; they should benefit conservation and monitoring of genetic diversity via national and global policy for decades to come.
Highlights
Genetic diversity is the basis for evolutionary change, and is critical for species to adapt to changing climate, habitats, and biotic interactions including novel diseases
Genetic diversity has been assessed for thousands of species, and meta-analyses of hundreds of datasets show that genetic diversity is decreasing, especially since the industrial revolution, because of habitat degradation and population loss, unsustainable harvest, invasive species and increasing extreme climatic events (Aguilar et al, 2008; Leigh et al, 2019; Miraldo et al, 2016; Pinsky and Palumbi, 2014)
We propose a comprehensive definition of genetic erosion applicable to both domesticated and wild species, which is connected to our proposed Action Target (Fig. 1)
Summary
Genetic diversity is the basis for evolutionary change, and is critical for species to adapt to changing climate, habitats, and biotic interactions including novel diseases. Genetic erosion occurs via similar processes in wild and domesticated species [e.g. inbreeding, genetically small effective population size (Ne), and loss of distinct variants, breeds or populations] This shift could promote monitoring and conservation actions to preserve genetic diversity within many wild species in situ and ex situ, help close the gap between conservation actions directed at ecosystems and species with those at the genetic level, and increase the focus on genetic diversity in national and subnational policies. A similar term, “genetic resources,” has been used to refer to “genetic material”, usually from wild or semi-domesticated populations, with “actual or potential economic, environmental, scientific or societal value.” This may include genes, genetic variants or genetic complexes controlling traits. We aim to motivate and provide entry points for scientists and policy makers to engage each other for science-driven policy on the conservation of genetic diversity
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