Biodiversity is too complex to be distilled down to a single number or indicator. A combination of several different indicators was developed to characterise the many components of biodiversity.
The department has collaborated with leading experts at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the Australian Museum and Macquarie University to develop a technical method to assess the status and trends in biodiversity and the ecological integrity of habitats that support biodiversity.
The technical method identifies 5 themes of indicators: 2 for biodiversity and 3 for ecological integrity. Within themes, indicators are grouped under families. This approach uses cutting-edge science, including field data, environmental modelling and remote sensing, to assess biodiversity for the whole state.
This approach allows for the revision of the indicator framework as needed, as methods and data improve. The latest update refines some of the indicator definitions.
Diagram showing the hierarchy of classes, themes and indicator families in the Biodiversity Indicator Program
Supporting information and data
Each of the indicators in the NSW biodiversity outlook report 2024 is supported by an implementation report. These peer-reviewed reports provide technical detail on exactly how indicators were calculated, allowing anyone with technical expertise to reproduce the indicators.
Each implementation report has a data package, which supports the indicators. Data packages are available for download from the Sharing and Enabling Environmental Data (SEED) Portal.
Providing full access to our data and methods ensures that our results are reproducible and allows for independent assessment. Sound and defensible science is essential for evidence-based decision-making. Find out more on the How we work webpage.
Implementation reports
- Expected survival of listed threatened species and ecological communities
- Expected survival of all known and undiscovered species
- State of all known species
- State of biodiversity, including undiscovered species
- Habitat condition (Update coming soon: Updating habitat condition indicators)
- Pressures
- Management responses – Assessment of an indicator of community appreciation of biodiversity
- Community appreciation of biodiversity indicator