Sustainable Development Indicator (SDI) Group
SDI Inventory, Organized by Issue
Working Draft, Version 3, October 8, 1996
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Changing Biodiversity

Definition: Undesirable changes in the variety of biota, and ecosystems

Candidate SDI:

Coastal Water Biodiversity (179 NOAA)
Definition: Diversity & distribution of fishes & invertebrates in coastal waters
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Dead Forest Water Bodies (79 USDA FS)
Definition: Number of water bodies that have lost half of their native fish populations
SDI Framework Element: Biota Population (1.2.1.2.1)
Element Characteristic: Number of Water Bodies

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)
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystem Diversity (1.2.1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area of Forest Land

Ecosystem Diversity (385 SDI Group)
Definition: Area of threatened ecosystems organized by type
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystem Diversity (1.2.1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area of Land

Ecosystem Fragmentation (383 SDI Group)
Definition: Area of fragmented ecosystem types
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystem Diversity (1.2.1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area of Land

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
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Endangered Species (21 PCSD)
Definition: number of endangered species
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Endangered Species (154 CEQ)
Definition: number of species listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA)
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Forest Diversity by Age (59 USDA FS)
Definition: extent of area by forest type and by age class or successional stage
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystem Diversity (1.2.1.2.2)
Element 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
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystem Diversity (1.2.1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area of Forest Land

Forest Fragmentation (62 USDA FS)
Definition: fragmentation of forest types
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystem Diversity (1.2.1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area of Forest Land

Forest Species Population (66 USDA FS)
Definition: Population levels of representative species from diverse habitats monitored across their range.
SDI Framework Element: Biota Population (1.2.1.2.1)
Element Characteristic: Species Population

Genetically Threatened Species (386 PCSD)
Definition: number of species with nearly identical genetic makeup
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Land Cover (351 SDI Group)
Definition: Area of land ecosystems organized by type
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystems, Land (1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area of Land

Old Growth Forest Area (17 PCSD)
Definition: total old growth forest area
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystem Diversity (1.2.1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area of Forest Land

Reduced Range Forest Species (65 USDA FS)
Definition: number of forest dependent species that occupy a small portion of their former range
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Reduced Range Species (384 SDI Group)
Definition: number of species that occupy a small portion of their former range
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Ecosystem Health

Definition: Decline in the overall health of ecosystems

Candidate SDI:

Ecosystem Health (14 PCSD)
Definition: Increase in the health of ecosystems, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, surface waters, and coastal lands:
SDI Framework Element: Ecological Capacity (1.2.1)
Element Characteristic: TBD

Exotic Species

Definition: Introduction of non-native species into an ecosystem

Candidate SDI:

Exotic Species in US (443 PCSD)
Definition: The total number of exotic species in the United States
SDI Framework Element: Introduction of Biota (3.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Exotic Species

Exotic Species Plantations (69 USDA FS)
Definition: The area and growing stock of plantations of native and exotic species
SDI Framework Element: Agricultural Land (1.2.2.1)
Element Characteristic: Area of Land

Invasive Exotic Species (23 SDI Group)
Definition: The total number of invasive species and their distribution in the United States
SDI Framework Element: Introduction of Biota (3.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Exotic Species

New Exotic Species Rate (426 SDI Group)
Definition: Number of harmful exotic species introduced into the United States each year
SDI Framework Element: Introduction of Biota (3.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Exotic Species

Habitat Change

Definition: The conversion of one type of ecosystem to another; habitat destruction; the alteration of a specific characteristics of an ecosystem

Candidate SDI:

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
SDI Framework Element: Forest Land (1.2.2.3)
Element Characteristic: Area of Forest Land

Human Forest Impact Spending (122 USDA FS)
Definition: millions of dollars devoted to research aimed at improving forest management and predicting impacts of human intervention on forests
SDI Framework Element: Expenditures (3.1.5)
Element Characteristic: Amount of Money Spent

Land Conversion Rates (424 SDI Group)
Definition: The conversion rate of one land ecosystem type to another.
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystems, Land (1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area

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.
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystems, Land (1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area

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
SDI Framework Element: Forest Land (1.2.2.3)
Element Characteristic: Area of Forest Land

Native Grasslands (19 PCSD)
Definition: Increased number of acres of healthy native grasslands.
SDI Framework Element: Rangeland (1.2.2.5)
Element Characteristic: Area of Grasslands

Reclaimed Land (314 UN CSD)
Definition: Area of land reclaimed (km2)
SDI Framework Element: Ecosystems, Land (1.2.2)
Element Characteristic: Area of Reclaimed Land

Wetlands Lost (16 PCSD)
Definition: Area wetlands lost per year
SDI Framework Element: Wetland (1.2.2.9)
Element Characteristic: Area of Wetlands

Wetlands Lost or Restored (144 CEQ)
Definition: number of wetlands lost and restored under the Pilot Wetlands Reserve Program
SDI Framework Element: Wetland (1.2.2.9)
Element Characteristic: Area of Wetlands

Species Extinction

Definition: The complete elimination of species

Candidate SDI:

Endangered Species (169 NOAA)
Definition: Status of species listed under the ESA
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Sea Mammal Population Change (168 NOAA)
Definition: Marine mammals & sea turtles/percent that are stable or increasing
SDI Framework Element: Biota Population (1.2.1.2.1)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Species Extinction Rate (409 SDI Group)
Definition: Number of species lost to extinction in the United States each year
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Species In Trouble (444 SDI Group)
Definition: The total number of species in trouble in the United States.
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species

Threatened Species (322 UN CSD)
Definition: Threatened species as % of total native species
SDI Framework Element: Species Diversity (1.2.1.2.4)
Element Characteristic: Number of Species