Land use and biodiversity indicators for Life Cycle Impact Assessment

Background. The primary purpose of environmental assessment is to protect b iological systems. Data collected over the last several decades indicates t hat the greatest impacts on biological resources derive from physical chang es in land use. However, to date there is no consensus on indicators of lan d use that could be applicable worldwide at all scales. This has hampered t he assessment of land use in the context of LCA. Objectives. The Institute for Environmental Research and Education and its partner Defenders of Wildlife have begun an effort to develop the necessary consensus. Methods. In July 2000, they held a workshop attended by a diverse group of interested parties and experts to develop a preliminary list of life cycle indicators for land use impacts Results. Their preliminary list of impact indicators includes: protection o f priority habitats/species; soil characteristics: soil health; proximity t o & protection of high priority vegetative communities; interface between w ater and terrestrial habitats/buffer zones; assimilative capacity of water and land; hydrological function; percent coverage of invasive species withi n protected areas; road density; percent native-dominated vegetation; resto ration of native vegetation; adoption of Best Management Practices linked t o biodiversity objectives; distribution (patchiness; evenness, etc.); and c onnectivity of native habitat. Conclusion. The list of indicators conforms well to other efforts in develo ping indicators. There appears to be convergence among experts in the field and in related fields on the appropriate things to measure. Future Prospects. These indicators are currently being tested in the United States. Further workshops and testing is planned towards developing intern ationally recognized indicators for land use.