A Dynamic Indicator for Assessing Biodiversity Impacts in Natural Resource Management: Insights from Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture in Colombia

Biodiversity is facing unprecedented threats from human activities, leading to alarming declines in species and ecosystems worldwide. This decline undermines ecosystem stability and reduces resilience to environmental changes, leading to significant ecological, economic, and societal impacts, and the world is seeking for effective strategies to tackle these challanges. This research focuses on Colombia, where sustainable management is essential to support agricultural productivity while safeguarding natural heritage. The study aims to provide decision-makers with a comprehensive assessment methodology to measure the impact of interventions on biodiversity conservation. By critically examining the current status of biodiversity the research seeks to inform evidence-based strategies for sustainable socio-economic development. A dynamic indicator will be used to support evidence-based decision-making, explicitly examining the conversion of traditional agricultural systems into Urban and Peri-Urban Agriculture (UPA). Data from the municipality of Bogotá with varying agricultural densities were used to validate the indicator. The tool is based on a SDM approach and it quantify the impact of management measures on biodiversity using the Red List Index (RLI) and shapefiles from the IUCN database. The research employs a technical questionnaire, evaluated through a weighted process, to generate a numerical indicator for the effectiveness of proposed interventions. The methodology also involves a tailored survey for local stakeholders and expert to gather insights on biodiversity and agricultural practices and validate the scientific data. This methodology provides a versatile framework for assessing biodiversity impacts and supports the development of sustainable strategies to enhance biodiversity conservation amidst environmental challenges. Results indicate a significant potential for UPA to mitigate agricultural pressures on biodiversity by introducing sustainable agricultural practises and land management. The results showed a marked improvement in biodiversity scores following UPA implementation, with a Simulated Red List Index (SRLI) demonstrating a 7% improvement related to a 59% progress on UPA system implementation. Furthermore, the tailored survey validates the scientific outcome and reveals a growing perception of biodiversity benefits linked to UPA practices. These findings suggest that UPA systems, if managed effectively, can play a pivotal role in biodiversity conservation, offering a replicable framework adaptable to other regions facing similar challenges