An update to the global Critical Habitat screening layer

Area of Science:

• Biodiversity conservation
• Environmental impact assessment
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• The International Finance Corporation (IFC) defines Critical Habitat in Performance Standard 6 (PS6) as areas of high biodiversity value requiring net biodiversity gain.
• Accurate identification of Critical Habitat is crucial for sustainable development projects and biodiversity protection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an updated global screening layer for Critical Habitat.
• To align this layer with the International Finance Corporation's 2019 guidance on Performance Standard 6.
• To quantify the global extent of Likely and Potential Critical Habitat.

Main Methods:

• Utilized global datasets covering 54 biodiversity features.
• Categorized areas as 'Likely' or 'Potential' Critical Habitat based on IFC criteria and data suitability.
• Developed a GIS-based screening layer for global Critical Habitat assessment.

Main Results:

• Identified 53.95 million km² (10.58%) as Likely Critical Habitat and 13.71 million km² (2.69%) as Potential Critical Habitat.
• Likely Critical Habitat primarily comprises Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas, Intact Forest Landscapes, and protected areas.
• Potential Critical Habitat is associated with Important Marine Mammal Areas and ranges of IUCN Vulnerable species.

Conclusions:

• The updated global screening layer represents a significant advancement in Critical Habitat identification.
• The identified areas underscore the global importance of biodiversity conservation in development planning.
• The current estimates may still underestimate the true extent of Critical Habitat worldwide.