Green Scores can be calculated at different points in time (scenarios) to show the current status, how conservation actions have affected that current status, what we might expect if conservation actions were halted, and how a species’ status might be improved in the future with conservation action. This will is reflected in a set of metrics which are based on differences in Green Scores calculated for different times and scenarios.
Photo: IUCN
The four conservation metrics assessed for the Green Status of Species. The Green Score (G) (right y-axis) is estimated at each of the bolded scenarios on the left y-axis. Contextual reference points are also provided on the left y-axis. The differences between the Green Score generated under a scenario and the current Green Score (i.e. the Species Recovery Score, labelled SRS) produce the four Conservation Metrics (red arrows and text). Figure adapted from Akçakaya et al. (2018).
Conservation Legacy captures the impact that past conservation interventions have had on maintaining or achieving current species status, ranging from high legacy (conservation actions have greatly improved species status) to low legacy (actions have been ineffective or have not been attempted).
Conservation Dependence captures what is expected to happen over the next 10 years if current conservation actions were to cease, ranging from high dependence (species status would quickly deteriorate in the absence of continued action) to low dependence (species status would not change if conservation action was halted).
Recovery is measured in the short- and long-term. Conservation Gain captures the change in status expected to occur within the next 10 years resulting from planned conservation actions. Recovery Potential represents the ‘reach goal’: given the state of the world today, across what proportion of historical range could we expect to be able to restore functional populations? For example, the tiger’s historic range overlaps with present-day Jakarta; it would be impossible to restore tigers to this part of their historic range.
Relationship to Conservation Planning
It is vital to understand that a Green Status of Species assessment is not a replacement for the conservation planning process; our focus is identifying past and potential future conservation impact. However, we are working with the Conservation Planning Specialist Group to identify how these assessments can assist planning.
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