Expanding Perspectives on Biodiversity : Open Access Indicators and Their Applications - Technical Report

Overview & Synopsis

This technical report presents the findings of the World Bank's Global Biodiversity Data & Analytics Project, which leverages open-access biodiversity data, machine learning, and geospatial analytics to enhance global conservation planning. The study develops the world's largest open-source species occurrence database, covering nearly 600,000 terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species across a broad range of taxa, including vertebrates, arthropods, mollusks, plants, fungi, and other organisms. The report introduces innovative biodiversity indicators, extinction risk assessments, human coexistence metrics, and conservation planning tools that support evidence-based decision-making. It maps endemic and small-range species, evaluates protected area effectiveness, develops regional and national biodiversity profiles, examines biodiversity in geopolitically sensitive regions, and assesses climate-related risks such as sea-level rise and salinity impacts on ecosystems and human well-being. The findings demonstrate how open-access data and advanced analytics can improve biodiversity monitoring, conservation prioritization, climate resilience, and sustainable development outcomes worldwide.