The word biodiversity signifies the diversity of life. This diversity cannot be recorded or measured as a whole – for example there are over 1.5 million plant and animal species throughout the world.

Biodiversity indicators must:

• meet scientific criteria;

• demonstrate a benefit for users;

• be possible to collect at reasonable cost.

Indicators record genotype diversity (e.g. varieties of crops, livestock breeds), the diversity of wild species (e.g. vascular plants, arthropod groups) and habitat diversity.

ART is designing indicator sets and working on ready-to-implement monitoring systems at farm and countryside level. The indicators are tested in extensive field campaigns. Models allow the indirect estimation of species diversity using a life cycle assessment approach.

Our clients are the Federal Ministries of Agriculture and the Environment (agri-environmental indicators) as well as the EU.