Monitoring

There are three Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).  

• Annual (Abi): ‘Real’ KPI score for every year, scaled to 100 as the benchmark established in the first year. There are three separate measures: a species and habitat richness score, an area managed for biodiversity score and a biodiversity engagement score.  

• Use: achieving goals & identifying project allocation or success.  

• Benchmark (Bbi): benchmark average species score to other sites in Fife and Scotland.  

• Use: assessing institution relative performance & identifying successful management plans.  

• Change (Cbi): annual change at sites and is found by subtracting the present year’s Abi value from that of the preceding year.  

• Use: identifying site potential/response to management & core performance number to graph rate of change.  

KPI monitoring was started systematically in May 2023 and each year we survey species richness in a range of reasonably representative plant and animal groups in every part of the University estate. The monitoring methods are deliberately simple – essentially a fine scale bioblitz – where every single animal and plant species within a focal group is recorded and mapped on an annual basis. Species totals are then compiled to estimate relative biodiversity value of areas and habitats within the University estate. And most importantly, how this value changes in response to our management actions and development decisions, ensuring that these actions and decisions can be biodiversity positive.  

Figure 1: Species and habitats are mapped annually and an overall index created, scaled to 100 for the first year. This index can then be compared to local benchmarks of species richness, and annual change assessed.