The Biodiversity Indicators Sets were developed as part of Mexico´s effort to create and consolidate the National System of Environmental Indicators (NSEI). The Environmental Performance Indicators Set was conceived as the core of NSEI and designed to be useful information tool for policy makers and specialists in environmental sciences. The Key Indicators Set was developed lately in collaboration with the German Agency for Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and directed to a more general public.

SNIA Biodiversity Indicators Initiative development and maintenance is leaded by the General Direction for Environmental Information and Statistics of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico. 

Selection of the biodiversity indicators was conducted by a small Coordination Team and six Expert Groups who considered specific groups of indicators. The Coordination Team developed guidance for the Expert Groups on evaluating and documenting candidate indicators, reviewing progress, and discussing how to frame the first indicators as an interconnected set. Each Expert Group met several times to discuss the availability of suitable data within Europe, and strengths and weaknesses of various indicators both individually and as part of an interlinked set.

The Coordination team met in October 2006 to decide which of over 70 indicators under consideration would be ready by the end of 2006, and hence could be proposed for inclusion into the first set. Approximately 50 indicators were deemed sufficiently developed to be discussed at a workshop bringing together biodiversity experts and policy makers, held in Copenhagen in November 2006. Following the workshop, the expert groups and Coordination Team continued to prepare documentation forms describing each candidate indicator, its data requirements, methodology, strengths and weaknesses, and presentation.

In 2007 the Coordination team met to review the documentation forms and drew up a list of 26 indicators to put forward to the EU and PEBLDS for endorsement within Europe. These indicators were approved and are actively used to report on progress towards the 2010 target.

1) Environmental Performance Indicators Set

Indicator classification after PSR Framework in parenthesis: P, pressure; S, state; and R, response.

Terrestrial Ecosystems
6.1-1 Land use change (P)
6.1-2 Highways growth (P)
6.1-3 Invasive species in terrestrial Ecosystems (P)
6.1-4 Extent of Natural Terrestrial Ecosystems (S)
6.1-5 Mexican terrestrial species at risk (S)
6.1-6 Natural Protected Areas (R)

Marine Ecosystems
6.3-1 National Shrimp Production (P)
6.3-2 National Aquaculture Production (P)
6.3-3 Oil leaks, pollutant and congenital water discharges in marine areas (P)
6.3-4 Exploratory wells in marine areas (P)
6.3-5 Population growth in coastal areas (P)
6.3-6 Tourists in coastal areas (P)
6.3-7 Marine cargo and passenger transport (P)
6.3-8 Invasive species on marine and coastal ecosystems (P)
6.3-9 Mexican marine species at risk (S)
6.3-10 Natural Protected Areas in marine areas (R)
6.3-11 Territorial Planning in coastal areas (R)

Coral Reefs (an special section of Marine Ecosystems Indicators)
6.3.1-1 Population growth in coastal areas with coral reefs (P)
6.3.1-2 Tourists in coastal areas with coral reefs (P)
6.3.1-3 Mexican coral species at risk (S)
6.3.1-4 Bleaching in Mexican coral reefs (S)
6.3.1-5 Natural Protected Areas in marine areas with coral reefs (R)
6.3.1-6 Territorial Planning in coastal areas with coral reefs (R)

Freshwater Ecosystems
6.2-1 Mexican dams (P)
6.2-2 Invasive species on freshwater ecosystems (P)
6.2-3 Oil leaks and pollutant discharges in freshwater ecosystems (P)
6.2-4 Invasive species on freshwater ecosystems (S)
6.2-5 Mexican freshwater wetlands in Ramsar Convention (R)

Species
6.4-1 Wildlife specimens assured per inspection (P)
6.4-2 Environmental contingencies with human origin (P)
6.4-3 Mexican species at risk (S)
6.4-4 Wildlife Conservation Units (Uma) (R)
6.4-5 Specimens admitted in Wildlife Conservation Centres (CIVS) (R)
6.4-6 Consolidated Subcommittees for conservation and management of priority Mexican species (R)
6.4-7 Hunting licenses (R)

Marine turtles (an special section of Species Indicators)
6.4.2-1 Marine turtles eggs and specimens assured (P)
6.4.2-2 Tuna, shrimp, shark and lobster national captures (P)
6.4.2-3 Mexican marine turtle species at risk (S)
6.4.2-4 Marine turtle hatchlings released in Federal Turtle Camps (R)
6.4.2-5 Shrimp boats with certified turtle excluder devices (TEDs) (R)
6.4.2-6 Turtle excluder devices (TEDs) inspections (R)
6.4.2-7 Natural Protected Areas decreed for marine turtle protection (R)

Cetaceans (an special section of Species Indicators)           
6.4.1-1 Whale watching licenses (P)
6.4.1-2 Fishing ships and cruise arrivals in whale areas (P)
6.4.1-3 National fish capture in whale areas (P)
6.4.1-4 Mexican cetacean species at risk (S)
6.4.1-5 Gray whale and Vaquita population sizes (S)
6.4.1-6 Dead dolphins and dolphin mortality rate per fishing haul (R)
6.4.1-7 Natural Protected Areas decreed in the distribution range of the gray whale and vaquita (R)

2) Key Indicators Set

I.C.1. Remaining natural vegetation (S)
I.C.2. National area under conservation and sustainable management instruments (R)
I.C.3. Mexican species at risk (S)

Among the communications tools used to convey Biodiversity Indicators are: 1) the Internet, 2) CD format, and 3) printed version. The Environmental Performance Indicators Set (including biodiversity Indicators) and Key Indicators Set are available in the National System of Natural Resources and Environmental Information Website where indicators are permanently updated. A CD including Environmental Performance Indicators Set is released annually.

Biodiversity indicators of the Environmental Performance Indicators Set will be reviewed and adjusted according to the each indicator pertinence and information availability. In that sense, a reviewed list of indicators will be available in a few months with the releasing of the CD Mexico´s Environmental Performance Indicators 2009. Key indicators Set will be available in a brochure for the general public in April 2010.

Semarnat. 2005. Environmental Performance Indicators in Mexico 2005. Mexico.

Semarnat. 2009. Conjunto de Indicadores Clave 2009. Mexico.