- Sustainable Development Indicator (SDI) Group
- SDI Inventory, Organized by Framework Element
- Working Draft, Version 3, October 8, 1996
Environmental Endowments
Ecological Capacity Definition: The overall ability of an ecosystem to maintain its natural, original, or current condition and to produce goods and services. This includes both the current stock and the ability of an ecosystem to produce more of a specific resource. This includes surface and subsurface renewable resources. This includes both land and ocean ecosystems.
Candidate SDI:
- Ecosystem Health (14 PCSD)
- Definition: Increase in the health of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, surface waters, and coastal lands:
- Issue: Biodiversity/Ecosystem Health
- Ecological Capacity Characteristic: TBD
- Environmental Equity (12 PCSD)
- Definition: exposure by income level
- Issue: Equity/Environmental Equity
- Ecological Capacity Characteristic: Number of People
Air Capacity Definition: The ability water resources to maintain the ecosystem in its natural, original, or current state. This includes the capacity of the water to provide Oxygen and water to the biota and carry off Carbon Dioxide from the biota in the ecosystem. This includes both man-made and naturally occurring substances found in air that interact with water and soil, each other, and biota to produce adverse or undesirable affects. This does not include waste products managed by man, which fall under Man-made Capital.
Candidate SDI:
- Ambient Toxins In Air (139 CEQ)
- Definition: measured concentrations of harmful chemicals at USGS National Trends Network stations
- Issue: Environment Quality/Air Quality
- Air Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Pollutants
- Tropospheric Ozone (188 NOAA)
- Definition: O3 tropospheric
- Issue: Environment Quality/Air Quality
- Air Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Ozone
- Unclean Air Areas (136 CEQ)
- Definition: number of nonattainment areas for the NAAQS pollutants.
- Issue: Environment Quality/Air Quality
- Air Capacity Characteristic: Area of Land
- Unclean Air Days (138 CEQ)
- Definition: number of Pollution Standards Index days greater than 100
- Issue: Environment Quality/Air Quality
- Air Capacity Characteristic: Time
Biota Population Definition: The total population of each species of biota. This does not include human population (see Population under Human Capital).
Candidate SDI:
- Algal Blooms (171 NOAA)
- Definition: Algal blooms & ecosystem functioning
- Issue: Environment Quality/Eutrophication
- Biota Population Characteristic: Number of Algae Blooms
- Contaminants in Biota (432 SDI Group)
- Definition: Chemical contaminants in Land, estuarine, & marine biota
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Biota
- Biota Population Characteristic: Amount of Pollutants
- Dead Forest Water Bodies (79 USDA FS)
- Definition: Number of water bodies that have lost half of their native fish populations
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Biota Population Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies
- Forest Species Population (66 USDA FS)
- Definition: Population levels of representative species from diverse habitats monitored across their range.
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Biota Population Characteristic: Species Population
- Livestock in Dryland (304 UN CSD)
- Definition: Livestock levels per km2 in dryland
- Issue: Climate/Desertification
- Biota Population Characteristic: Number Livestock per Area
- Marine Max Sustained Yield (295 UN CSD)
- Definition: Division in stock of marine species from maximum sustained yield (or another level) (%)
- Issue: Resource/Declining Fisheries
- Biota Population Characteristic: Species Population
- Maximum Sustained Yield Ratio (296 UN CSD)
- Definition: Ratio between Maximum Sustained Yield (or another) abundance and actual average abundance (%)
- Issue: Resource/Declining Fisheries
- Biota Population Characteristic: Species Population
- Sea Mammal Population Change (168 NOAA)
- Definition: Marine mammals & sea turtles/percent that are stable or increasing
- Issue: Biodiversity/Species Extinction
- Biota Population Characteristic: Number of Species
Ecosystem Diversity Definition: The ability to naturally maintain a wide variety of ecosystems. This capacity generally applies to a broad geographic area and whole classes of ecosystems.
Candidate SDI:
- Diminished Forest Land (74 USDA FS)
- Definition: area and percent of forest land with diminished biological components indicative of changes in fundamental ecological processes (e.g. soil, nutrient cycling, seed dispersion, pollination)
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Ecosystem Diversity Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Ecosystem Diversity (385 SDI Group)
- Definition: Area of threatened ecosystems organized by type
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Ecosystem Diversity Characteristic: Area of Land
- Ecosystem Fragmentation (383 SDI Group)
- Definition: Area of fragmented ecosystem types
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Ecosystem Diversity Characteristic: Area of Land
- Forest Diversity by Age (59 USDA FS)
- Definition: extent of area by forest type and by age class or successional stage
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Ecosystem Diversity Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Forest Diversity by Type (58 USDA FS)
- Definition: Ecosystem Diversity Extent of area by forest type relative to total forest area
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Ecosystem Diversity Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Forest Fragmentation (62 USDA FS)
- Definition: fragmentation of forest types
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Ecosystem Diversity Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Old Growth Forest Area (17 PCSD)
- Definition: total old growth forest area
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Ecosystem Diversity Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
Species Diversity Definition: The ability to naturally maintain multiple species within a single or multiple ecosystems.
Candidate SDI:
- Coastal Water Biodiversity (179 NOAA)
- Definition: Diversity & distribution of fishes & invertebrates in coastal waters
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Endangered Forest Species (64 USDA FS)
- Definition: the status (rate, threatened, endangered, or extinct) of forest dependent species at risk of not maintaining viable breeding populations, as determined legislation or scientific assessment
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Endangered Species (21 PCSD)
- Definition: number of endangered species
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Endangered Species (154 CEQ)
- Definition: number of species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Endangered Species (169 NOAA)
- Definition: Status of species listed under the ESA
- Issue: Biodiversity/Species Extinction
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Forest Defendant Species (63 USDA FS)
- Definition: The number of forest dependent species;
- Issue: Government/Sustainable Development Education
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Genetically Threatened Species (386 PCSD)
- Definition: number of species with nearly identical genetic makeup
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Reduced Range Forest Species (65 USDA FS)
- Definition: number of forest dependent species that occupy a small portion of their former range
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Reduced Range Species (384 SDI Group)
- Definition: number of species that occupy a small portion of their former range
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Species Extinction Rate (409 SDI Group)
- Definition: Number of species lost to extinction in the United States each year
- Issue: Biodiversity/Species Extinction
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Species In Trouble (444 SDI Group)
- Definition: The total number of species in trouble in the United States.
- Issue: Biodiversity/Species Extinction
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
- Threatened Species (322 UN CSD)
- Definition: Threatened species as % of total native species
- Issue: Biodiversity/Species Extinction
- Species Diversity Characteristic: Number of Species
Contribution to Global System Definition: The ability of an ecosystem to affect the behavior of global subsystems, specifically, the global atmosphere (weather and climate) and oceans.
Candidate SDI:
- Forest Products Biomass (84 USDA FS)
- Definition: total mass of carbon in wood products
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Contribution to Global System Characteristic: Mass of Carbon
- Total Forest Biomass (83 USDA FS)
- Definition: total mass of carbon in forest ecosystem
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Contribution to Global System Characteristic: Mass of Carbon
Human Habitat Capacity Definition: The ability of an ecosystem to provide space and resources to support human habitations. Habitations include buildings, structures, roads, dams, power lines, and other such human-made capital.
Candidate SDI:
- Coastal Area Population (183 NOAA)
- Definition: Population increases in coastal areas
- Issue: Land Use/Urbanization
- Human Habitat Capacity Characteristic: Human Population
- Coastal Area Population Growth (292 UN CSD)
- Definition: Population growth in coastal areas (%)
- Issue: Land Use/Urbanization
- Human Habitat Capacity Characteristic: Human Population
- Coastal Housing (184 NOAA)
- Definition: Housing trends in coastal areas
- Issue: Land Use/Urbanization
- Human Habitat Capacity Characteristic: Area of Land
- Informal Settlements (253 UN CSD)
- Definition: Area and population of informal settlements (km, no)
- Issue: Population/Refugee Population
- Human Habitat Capacity Characteristic: Number of People per Area
- Population Density (229 UN CSD)
- Definition: Population density (people/km2)
- Issue: Population/Population Shifts
- Human Habitat Capacity Characteristic: Number of People per Area
Productive Capacity Definition: The ability of an ecosystem to produce the raw materials necessary for economic activities. This includes all renewable resources, such as agricultural products, fibers, foodstuffs, timber, water, etc. This includes all renewable resources found both on and below the surface of the Ecosystem.
Candidate SDI:
- Coastal Water Fish Kills (176 NOAA)
- Definition: Fish kills in coastal waters
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Water
- Productive Capacity Characteristic: Number of Fish kills
- Fish Stock Use (166 NOAA)
- Definition: Fish stocks/percent fully utilized
- Issue: Resource/Declining Fisheries
- Productive Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Fish
- Forest Land for Timber (67 USDA FS)
- Definition: Area of forest land and net area of forest land available for timber production.
- Issue: Land Use/Deforestation
- Productive Capacity Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Renewable Resource Use (28 PCSD)
- Definition: ratio of amount extracted to amount regenerated
- Issue: Resource/Renewable Resources
- Productive Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Natural Resources
- Shellfish Quality (182 NOAA)
- Definition: Quality of shellfish harvesting areas
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Biota
- Productive Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Pollutants
- Tender Stocks (317 UN CSD)
- Definition: Tender stocks (m3)
- Issue: Land Use/Deforestation
- Productive Capacity Characteristic: Volume of Lumber
- Total Tree Growing Stock (68 USDA FS)
- Definition: Total growing stock of both merchantable and nonmerchantable tree species on forest land available for timber production.
- Issue: Land Use/Deforestation
- Productive Capacity Characteristic: Volume
Soil Capacity Definition: The ability of the local soil resources to maintain the ecosystem in its natural, original, or current state. This includes the capacity of the soil to provide nutrients and minerals to the biota in the ecosystem. This also includes the amount of soil available for use by an ecosystem. This includes both man-made and naturally occurring substances found in soil that interact with twater and air, each other, and biota to produce adverse or undesirable affects. This does not include waste products managed by man, which fall under Man-made Capital.
Candidate SDI:
- Diminished Soil Forest Land (77 USDA FS)
- Definition: Area forest land with soil of low organic content divided by total forest area
- Issue: Resource/Soil Quality
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Erosion Index (300 UN CSD)
- Definition: Area affected by soil erosion/erosion index
- Issue: Production/Erosion
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Area of Eroded Land
- Salination and Waterlogging (312 UN CSD)
- Definition: Area affected by salination and waterlogging (km3)
- Issue: Production/Over Irrigation
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Volume of Soil
- Soil Chemistry (394 SDI Group)
- Definition: Soil chemical content organized by location (e.g., iso-contours across the United States)
- Issue: Resource/Soil Quality
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Chemical Content
- Soil Compaction Forest Land (78 USDA FS)
- Definition: Area forest land with compacted soil divided by total forest area
- Issue: Resource/Soil Quality
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Soil Loss (15 PCSD)
- Definition: topsoil lost per year
- Issue: Resource/Soil Quality
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Volume of Soil
- Soil Moisture Content (392 SDI Group)
- Definition: Average seasonal soil moisture organized by location (e.g., iso moisture contours across the United States)
- Issue: Resource/Soil Quality
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Water
- Soil Nutrients (391 SDI Group)
- Definition: Average seasonal nutrient content organized by location (e.g., iso nutrient contours across the United States)
- Issue: Resource/Soil Quality
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Nutrients
- Soil Structure (393 SDI Group)
- Definition: Soil structure (grain size, compaction, etc.) organized by location (e.g., iso-contours across the United States)
- Issue: Resource/Soil Quality
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Granule size
- Soil Types (390 SDI Group)
- Definition: Land area organized by soil type
- Issue: Resource/Soil Quality
- Soil Capacity Characteristic: Area of Land
Water Capacity Definition: The ability water resources to maintain the ecosystem in its natural, original, or current state. This includes the capacity of the water to provide nutrients and minerals to the biota in the ecosystem. This also includes the amount of water available for use by the ecosystem. This includes both man-made and naturally occurring substances found in wate that interact with soil and air, each other, and biota to produce adverse or undesirable affects. This does not include waste products managed by man, which fall under Man-made Capital.
Candidate SDI:
- Coastal Water Nutrients (170 NOAA)
- Definition: Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Nitrogen, & Phosphorus loadings into coastal waters (point & nonpoint sources)
- Issue: Environment Quality/Eutrophication
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Nutrients
- Deposition of Atmospheric Nitrogen (359 SDI Group)
- Definition: Amount of atmospheric nitrogen absorbed into water bodies.
- Issue: Environment Quality/Eutrophication
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Nitrogen
- Drought (195 NOAA)
- Definition: Drought
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Water
- ENSO (203 NOAA)
- Definition: ENSO, NAO
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Water
- Estuarine Biota Impact (178 NOAA)
- Definition: Impacts on estuarine & marine biota
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Biota
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Pollutants
- Freshwater Faecal Coliform (288 UN CSD)
- Definition: Concentration of faecal coliform in freshwater bodies (no/100 ml)
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Bacteria
- Groundwater Contamination (353 SDI Group)
- Definition: Area of land with contaminated ground water
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Water
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Area of Land
- Groundwater Drawdown (352 SDI Group)
- Definition: Change in depth of water table over time
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Distance per Time
- Groundwater Reserves (287 UN CSD)
- Definition: Groundwater reserves (M3)
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Groundwater
- Heavy Metals in Water (377 CEQ)
- Definition: concentrations of Lead, Cadmium, and Ammoniun
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Pollutants
- Marine Biota Contaminants (177 NOAA)
- Definition: Chemical contaminants in estuarine & marine biota
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Biota
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Pollutants
- Oxygen in Water (289 UN CSD)
- Definition: BOD and COD in water bodies (mg/1)
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Oxygen
- Palmer Drought Severity Index (210 NOAA)
- Definition: PDSI
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Area of Drought Land
- People Drinking Water (2 PCSD)
- Definition: # of people living in areas that do not meet safe drinking water standards
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Number of People
- Snow Cover (200 NOAA)
- Definition: Snow cover
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Area of Snow Cover
- Snow cover (214 NOAA)
- Definition: Snow cover
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Area of Snow Cover
- Snow Survey (219 NOAA)
- Definition: Snow survey
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Precipitation
- Total Precipitation (212 NOAA)
- Definition: Total precip.
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Precipitation
- Water Constituents (140 CEQ)
- Definition: concentrations of selected chemical physical, and sanitary constituents of water at stations
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Pollutants
- Water Quality Index (446 SDI Group)
- Definition: Index of water quality measuring the appropriate concentrations of selected chemical physical, and sanitary constituents of water at stations
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Constituents
- Water Resource Availability (220 NOAA)
- Definition: Total water available organized by major watersheds
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Water Capacity Characteristic: Amount of Water
Ecosystems, Land Definition: An area on the Earth's land surface, extending to high-tide mark, with a characteristic physical environment and biological community.
Candidate SDI:
- Acid Rain (357 SDI Group)
- Definition: Area of land with high ph level resulting from excess Sulfuric and Nitric acid.
- Issue: Environment Quality/Acidification
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Land
- Hazardous Waste Land (340 UN CSD)
- Definition: Area of land contaminated by hazardous waste (km2)
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Soil
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Contaminated Land
- Land Conversion Rates (424 SDI Group)
- Definition: The conversion rate of one land ecosystem type to another.
- Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area
- Land Cover (351 SDI Group)
- Definition: Area of land ecosystems organized by type
- Issue: Biodiversity/Changing Biodiversity
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Land
- Land Use (299 UN CSD)
- Definition: Area of land ecosystems organized by use
- Issue: Government/Public Policy
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Land
- Major Land Use, Including Urban (423 SDI Group)
- Definition: The total land area in the United states broken down by major estuarine and land ecosystem. This includes both urban and agricultural land.
- Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area
- McKee Drought Index (209 NOAA)
- Definition: McKee index, % area in short/long- term drought
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Drought Land
- Palmer Drought Severity Index (211 NOAA)
- Definition: PDSI % area in severe/ext. wet spell
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Drought Land
- Protected Land (323 UN CSD)
- Definition: Protected area as % of total land area
- Issue: Government/Conservation
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Protected Land
- Reclaimed Land (314 UN CSD)
- Definition: Area of land reclaimed (km2)
- Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Reclaimed Land
- Toxic Land Area (75 SDI Group)
- Definition: Area and percent of land experiencing an accumulation of persistent toxic substances, including superfund and brown field sites
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Soil
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Land
- Urban Land Conversion (20 PCSD)
- Definition: land area converted to urban use per year
- Issue: Land Use/Urbanization
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Land
- Vegetation Index (223 NOAA)
- Definition: Vegetation Index (from AVHRR)
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Ecosystems, Land Characteristic: Area of Land
Agricultural Land Definition: All ecosystems modified or created by man specifically to grow or raise biological products for human consumption or use. This includes cropland, pasture, orchards, groves, vineyards, nurseries, ornamental horticultural areas, and confined feeding areas.
Candidate SDI:
- Agriculture Land Conversion (415 SDI Group)
- Definition: Prime agricultural land area converted to urban use per year
- Issue: Land Use/Urbanization
- Agricultural Land Characteristic: Area of Land
- Arable Land Per Capita (310 UN CSD)
- Definition: Arable land per capita (ha/capita)
- Issue: Land Use/Arable Land
- Agricultural Land Characteristic: Area of Agricultural Land
- Exotic Species Plantations (69 USDA FS)
- Definition: The area and growing stock of plantations of native and exotic species
- Issue: Biodiversity/Exotic Species
- Agricultural Land Characteristic: Area of Land
- Irrigated Arable Land (311 UN CSD)
- Definition: Irrigation % of arable land
- Issue: Production/Over Irrigation
- Agricultural Land Characteristic: Amount of Irrigated Land
Barren Land Definition: Those ecosystems in which less than one third of the area has vegetation or other cover. In general, Barren Land has thin soil, sand, or rocks. Barren lands include deserts, dry salt flats, beaches, sand dunes, exposed rock, strip mines, quaries, and gravel pits.
Candidate SDI:
- Desertification Index (306 UN CSD)
- Definition: Land affected by desertification (km3)/desertification on index
- Issue: Climate/Desertification
- Barren Land Characteristic: Area of Desert Land
- Desertification Rate (397 SDI Group)
- Definition: Land area converted to desert per year
- Issue: Climate/Desertification
- Barren Land Characteristic: Area of Desert Land
Forest Land Definition: Those ecosystems that have a tree crown density (crown closure percentage) of 10% or more and are stocked with trees capable of producing timber or other wood products. This includes land from which trees have been removed to less than 10%, but which have not been developed for other uses.
Candidate SDI:
- Cultural Forest Land (98 USDA FS)
- Definition: area and percent of forest land managed in relation to the total area of forest land to protect the range of cultural, social and spiritual needs and values
- Issue: Government/Conservation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Forest Area (149 CEQ)
- Definition: percentage of U.S. covered with forests, which vary from sparse scrub forests of the interior West to highly productive forests of the Pacific Coast and the South
- Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Forest Area (318 UN CSD)
- Definition: Forest area (km2)
- Issue: Land Use/Deforestation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Forest Recreation Facilities (92 USDA FS)
- Definition: Number of facilities per visitor
- Issue: Individual/Recreation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Number of Facilities
- Forest Substanance Use (103 USDA FS)
- Definition: Protected areas of Forest Land used for subsistence purposes.
- Issue: Government/Conservation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Modified Forest Land (72 USDA FS)
- Definition: Area and percent of forest affected by processes or agents beyond the range of historic variation, e.g. by insects, disease, competition from exotic species, fire, storm, land clearance, permanent flooding, salinisation, and domestic animals
- Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Polluted Forest Land (73 USDA FS)
- Definition: Area and percent of forest land subjected to levels of specific air pollutants (e.g. sulfates, nitrate, ozone) or ultra violet B that may cause negative impacts on the forest ecosystem.
- Issue: Environment Quality/Air Quality
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Land
- Protected Forest by Age (61 USDA FS)
- Definition: Extent of areas by forest type in protected areas defined by age class or successional stage
- Issue: Government/Conservation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Protected Forest by Type (60 USDA FS)
- Definition: Extent of areas by forest type in protected area categories as defined by IUCNN2 or other classification systems.
- Issue: Government/Conservation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Protected Forest Land (321 UN CSD)
- Definition: Protected forest area as % of total land area
- Issue: Land Use/Deforestation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Protected Forest Land
- Recreational Forest land (91 USDA FS)
- Definition: Area and percent of forest land managed for general recreation and tourism, in relation to the total area of forest land.
- Issue: Individual/Recreation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
- Reforestation Rate (320 UN CSD)
- Definition: Reforestation rate (km3/annum)
- Issue: Land Use/Deforestation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Volume Lumber per Year
- Reforested Land (150 CEQ)
- Definition: millions of acres of public and private forest land reforested
- Issue: Land Use/Deforestation
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Reforested Land
- Total Forest Biomass (82 USDA FS)
- Definition: Total forest ecosystem biomass and carbon pool, and if appropriate, by forest type, age class, and successional stages.
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Forest Land Characteristic: Mass of Carbon
- Toxic Forest Land (81 USDA FS)
- Definition: Area and percent of forest land experiencing an accumulation of persistent toxic substances.
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Soil
- Forest Land Characteristic: Area of Forest Land
Rangeland Definition: Those ecosystems dominated by grasses, grasslike plants, forbs, or shrubs and dominated by herbavors. Most of the rangelands in the United States are to the west of an irregular North/South line that cuts through the Dakotas, Nebraska, Knasas, Oklahoma, and Texas.
Candidate SDI:
- Native Grasslands (19 PCSD)
- Definition: Increased number of acres of healthy native grasslands.
- Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change
- Rangeland Characteristic: Area of Grasslands
Urban Definition: Those ecosystems dominated by man-made structures. Included in this category are cities, towns, villages, strip developments along highways, transportation, power, and communications facilities, and areas such as those occupied by mills, shopping centers, industrial and commercial complexes, and institutions that may, in some instances, be isolated from urban areas.
Candidate SDI:
- Ambient Urban Pollutants (330 UN CSD)
- Definition: Ambient concentrations of SO2, COx, NOx, 02 and TSP in urban area (ppm)
- Issue: Environment Quality/Air Quality
- Urban Characteristic: Amount of Pollutants
- Exposure to Air Pollution (240 UN CSD)
- Definition: % of people exposed to high concentrations of health damaging air pollution
- Issue: Environment Quality/Air Quality
- Urban Characteristic: Number of People
- Flood Prone Cities (356 SDI Group)
- Definition: Number of urban areas located on flood planes or other areas experiencing a major flood at least once per decade
- Issue: Environment Quality/Natural Disasters
- Urban Characteristic: Number of Cities
- High Growth Urban Areas (360 SDI Group)
- Definition: Number of urban areas experiencing a growth rate of greater than 50% per year
- Issue: Infrastructure/Public Infrastructure
- Urban Characteristic: Number of Cities
- Megacities (251 UN CSD)
- Definition: Number of megacities (10 million or more)
- Issue: Population/Population Shifts
- Urban Characteristic: Number of Cities
- Ozone Exposed People (137 CEQ)
- Definition: number of people living in counties that do not meet the ground level ozone standard
- Issue: Environment Quality/Air Quality
- Urban Characteristic: Number of People
- Urban Decay (368 SDI Group)
- Definition: Number of cities experiencing a sharp decline in population and income within the last 30 years.
- Issue: Land Use/Urban Decay
- Urban Characteristic: Number of Cities
- Urban Population (252 UN CSD)
- Definition: % of population in urban areas
- Issue: Population/Population Shifts
- Urban Characteristic: Number of People
- Urban Population Growth (249 UN CSD)
- Definition: Rate of growth of urban population (%)
- Issue: Population/Population Shifts
- Urban Characteristic: Number of People
- Urban Public Parks (31 PCSD)
- Definition: urban green space, park space, and recreational areas
- Issue: Land Use/Outdoor Recreational Services
- Urban Characteristic: Area of Park Land
- Water Shortages (398 SDI Group)
- Definition: Number of cities that have oversubscribed the available water resources
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Urban Characteristic: Number of Cities
Water systems Definition: Those ecosystems persistantly covered by water. This includes streams, creeks, rivers, canals and other linear bodies of water. This also includes lakes (both fresh and salt water) and reserviors.
Candidate SDI:
- Acid Lakes (358 SDI Group)
- Definition: Number of standing lakes, streams, and receivers with high ph level resulting from excess Sulfuric and Nitric acid.
- Issue: Environment Quality/Acidification
- Water systems Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies
- Dead Forest Water Bodies (80 USDA FS)
- Definition: Percent of water bodies in forest areas (e.g. stream kilometers, lake hectares ) with significant variation from the historic range of variability in pH, dissolved oxygen, levels of chemicals (electrical conductivity), sedimentation or temperature change.
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Systems Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies
- Fragmented Water Systems (389 SDI Group)
- Definition: Number of water systems fragmented from their original condition by human activities
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Water Systems Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies
- Healthy Lakes (18 PCSD)
- Definition: Number of water systems classified as safe for fish harvest
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Systems Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies
- Lakes Requiring Cleanup (142 CEQ)
- Definition: percentage of rivers, lakes, and streams that need pollution control actions, as determined by EPA
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Systems Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies
- Lakes With Lead (143 CEQ)
- Definition: number of water systems that exceed the lead action level of 15 ppb suggested by EPA
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Systems Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies
- Lakes With Thermal Pollution (388 SDI Group)
- Definition: number of water systems with temperatures that exceed the normal by 5 degrees centigrade
- Issue: Environment Quality/Water Quality
- Water Systems Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies
- Modified Forest Streams (76 USDA FS)
- Definition: Percent of stream kilometers in forested catchments in which stream flow and timing has significantly deviated from the historic range of variation.
- Issue: Production/Erosion
- Water Systems Characteristic: Length of Streams
- Seasonal Water Bodies (387 SDI Group)
- Definition: Number of water bodies with significant seasonal or annual variations
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Water Systems Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies
Wetland Definition: Those ecosystems where the water table is at, near, or above the land surface for a significant part of most years and dominated by hydrophytic vegitation and biota. Wetlands include marshes, mudflats, swamps, wet meadows, and perched bogs. Wetlands also include seasonally flooded basins, playas, or potholes with no surface water outflow. Wetlands do not include shallow water areas with submerged aquatic vegitation falls (see Water Systems and Ocean Ecosystems). This does not include tidal, estuarian wetlands (see Estuarian Ecosystems).
Candidate SDI:
- Wetlands Lost (16 PCSD)
- Definition: Area wetlands lost per year
- Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change
- Wetland Characteristic: Area of Wetlands
- Wetlands Lost or Restored (144 CEQ)
- Definition: number of wetlands lost and restored under the Pilot Wetlands Reserve Program
- Issue: Biodiversity/Habitat Change
- Wetland Characteristic: Area of Wetlands
Ecosystems, Estuarine Definition: Those ecosystems consisting of tidal catchments and adjacent tidal wetlands that are usually semi-enclosed by land but have open, partly obstructed, or sporadic access to the open ocean, and in which ocean water is at least occasionally diluted by freshwater runoff from the land. This ecosystem extends to the high-tide mark. The Estuarine System also includes offshore areas of continuously diluted sea water.
Candidate SDI:
- Coastal Resource Oil Spill (180 NOAA)
- Definition: Coastal resources at risk from spilled oil
- Issue: Environment Quality/Toxic Chemical Releases
- Ecosystems, Estuarine Characteristic: Length of Shoreline
- Shellfish Harvest Areas (145 CEQ)
- Definition: percentage of waters in 23 shellfish growing states approved for harvest at all times by the NOAA National Ocean Service
- Issue: Environment Quality/Contamination of Biota
- Ecosystems, Estuarine Characteristic: Area of Shellfish Fisheries
Ecosystems, Marine Definition: Those ecosystems consisting of the open ocean overlying the continental shelf and its associated high-energy coastline, extending to the high-tide mark. Shallow coastal indentations or bays without appreciable freshwater inflow are also considered part of the marine system.
Candidate SDI:
- Algae Index (297 UN CSD)
- Definition: Algae index
- Issue: Environment Quality/Eutrophication
- Ecosystems, Marine Characteristic: Amount of Algae
Atmosphere Definition: The gaseous mass or envelop surrounding the Earth, retained by the Earth's gravitational feild. The atmosphere extends from the Earth's surface (commonly called the atmospheric boundry layer) to an altitude of about 110 miles (660 km). The atmosphere is divided into layers based on how the temperature varies with altitude.
Candidate SDI:
- Arctic Optical Depth (192 NOAA)
- Definition: Arctic haze/ optical depth
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Air Clarity
- Carbon Dioxide (185 NOAA)
- Definition: CO2
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Amount of Greenhouse Gases
- Climate Extremes Index (213 NOAA)
- Definition: Climate Extremes Index
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Amount of Precipitation
- ClorFloroCarbons (190 NOAA)
- Definition: CFCs, HFCs
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Amount of Greenhouse Gases
- Drought Frequency (307 UN CSD)
- Definition: Drought frequency (or intensity)
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Number of Droughts
- Greenhouse Climate Response Index (215 NOAA)
- Definition: Arithmatic average of 1) percent of U.S. with much above normal minimum temperatures, 2) percent of U.S. with much above normal precipitation during the months of October through April, 3) percent of U.S. in extreme or severe drought during the months of May through September and 4) the percent of the U.S. with a much greater than normal proportion of precipitation derrived from extreme one day precipitation events (exceeding 2 inches).
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Temperature
- Maximum Temperature (197 NOAA)
- Definition: Maximum temperature
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Temperature
- Methane (186 NOAA)
- Definition: CH4
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Amount of Greenhouse Gases
- Methane Isotopes (193 NOAA)
- Definition: CH4 Isotope
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Air Clarity
- Minimum Temperature (198 NOAA)
- Definition: Minimum temperature
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Temperature
- Nitrous Oxides (191 NOAA)
- Definition: N2O
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Amount of Greenhouse Gases
- Optical Depth (194 NOAA)
- Definition: Optical Depth
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Air Clarity
- Precipitation Extremes (199 NOAA)
- Definition: Precipitation extremes
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Amount of Precipitation
- Rainfall Frequency (218 NOAA)
- Definition: Rainfall frequency
- Issue: Climate/Drought
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Amount of Precipitation
- Snow Water Equivalent (216 NOAA)
- Definition: Snow H2O equiv.
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Amount of Precipitation
- Streamflow Forecasts (217 NOAA)
- Definition: Streamflow forecasts
- Issue: Resource/Water Resources
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Amount of Precipitation
- Ultraviolet-B Radiation (221 NOAA)
- Definition: Ultraviolet-B radiation
- Issue: Climate/Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
- Atmosphere Characteristic: Radiation Flux
Stratosphere Definition: The layer of the Earth's atmosphere between 10-50 km defined by an exponential increase in temperature as a function of altitude. The temperature peaks at about 270 degrees Kelvin at approximately 50 km. The ozone layer lies in the stratosphere.
Candidate SDI:
- Stratospheric Ozone Concentration (187 NOAA)
- Definition: O3 total
- Issue: Climate/Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
- Stratosphere Characteristic: Amount of Ozone
- Stratospheric Temperature (204 NOAA)
- Definition: Stratospheric temp.
- Issue: Climate/Stratospheric Ozone Depletion
- Stratosphere Characteristic: Temperature
- Stratospheric Water Vapor (189 NOAA)
- Definition: H2O stratospheric
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Stratosphere Characteristic: Amount of Water Vapor
Oceans Definition: The entire body of salt water that covers approximately 72% of the Earth's surface.
Candidate SDI:
- Ocean Surface Temperature (196 NOAA)
- Definition: Ocean Surface temperature
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Oceans Characteristic: Temperature
- Sea Ice Volume (201 NOAA)
- Definition: Sea Ice
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Oceans Characteristic: Volume of Sea Ice
- Sea Surface Temperature (222 NOAA)
- Definition: Sea surface temperature (from AVHRR)
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Oceans Characteristic: Temperature
- Temperature Gradients (207 NOAA)
- Definition: Temp. gradients -- NH-SH, land-ocean, pole-equator
- Issue: Climate/Global Climate Change
- Oceans Characteristic: Temperature
Non-Renewable Resources Definition: The ability of an ecosystem to produce the raw materials necessary for economic activities. This includes non-renewable resources, such as metals, minerals, and fossil fuels. This includes all non-renewable resources found both on and below the surface of the Ecosystem.
Candidate SDI:
- Energy Reserves by Type (271 UN CSD)
- Definition: Proven energy reserves (% equivalents) organized by type (hydroelectric, fossil fuel, nuclear, etc.)
- Issue: Resource/Energy Resources
- Non-Renewable Resources Characteristic: Amount of Fossil Fuel
- Energy Reserves Lifetime (272 UN CSD)
- Definition: Lifetime of proven energy reserves (years)
- Issue: Resource/Energy Resources
- Non-Renewable Resources Characteristic: Amount of Fossil Fuel
- Fossil Fuel Reserves (155 CEQ)
- Definition: proved reserves of crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas plant liquids
- Issue: Resource/Energy Resources
- Non-Renewable Resources Characteristic: Amount of Fossil Fuel
- Mineral Depletion (268 UN CSD)
- Definition: Depletion of mineral resources (% of proven reserves)
- Issue: Resource/Mineral Reserves
- Non-Renewable Resources Characteristic: Amount of Mineral Reserves
- Mineral Reserves (270 UN CSD)
- Definition: Proven mineral reserves(1)
- Issue: Resource/Mineral Reserves
- Non-Renewable Resources Characteristic: Amount of Mineral Reserves
- Renewable Nonrenewable Energy (275 UN CSD)
- Definition: Ratio of consumption of renewable over non renewable energy resources
- Issue: Resource/Renewable Resources
- Non-Renewable Resources Characteristic: Amount of Natural Resources