Page 111 - U4SSC KPIs Verification Manual - A guide for verifiers

Dimension Environment
Sub-Dimension Environment

Category Public Space and Nature
KPI Name Protected Natural Areas
KPI No. EN: EN: PSN: 3A Type: Advanced Type: Sustainable

Definition / Percentage of city area protected as natural sites
Description

Rationale / Protected natural areas of a city are important to allow for habitats for native
Interpretation / species to maintain biodiversity. Natural areas should be as large as possible and
Benchmarking contiguous for maximum benefit.
A “protected area” refers to a clearly defined geographical space, recognized,
dedicated, and managed, through legal or other effective means, to achieve the
long-term conservation of nature with associated ecosystem services and cultural
values.

An improving trend and higher values are considered positive.
Source(s) NOTE – IUCN. Urban Protected Areas – Profiles and best practice guidelines.
Retrieved from <https:// www .iucn .org/ content/ urban -protected -areas -profiles -and
-best -practice -guidelines>
Methodology Calculate as:

Numerator: Area of protected natural areas preserved by law or other effective
means ((m ).
2
Denominator: Total city area ((m ).
2
Multiply by 100.

Unit Percentage
Data Sources Data may be obtained through municipal parks and recreation departments,
/ Relevant planning departments, aerial surveys or GIS data.
Database

SDG Reference(s) SDG Indicator 15.1.2: Proportion of important sites for terrestrial and freshwater
biodiversity that are covered by protected areas, by ecosystem type SDG Indicator
15.B.1: Official development assistance and public expenditure on conservation
and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems.
SDG Target14.5: By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine
areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best
available scientific information.

Verification The area of natural spaces is usually a subset of Green Spaces.
Guidance
Check city area for consistency.
Check data sources.
GIS maps are common methodology to calculate.
DATA VALUES:
Total area of natural space should normally be significantly less that green spaces.

U4SSC KPIs Verification Manual-A guide for verifiers 101