Indicator: Indicator Species Presence

Description	The indicator species measure assesses ecological integrity by tracking the presence of species that reflect environmental conditions, habitat quality, and ecosystem function. Multiple species from different ecological groups-such as large herbivores, large carnivores or disturbance-sensitive species-are evaluated, providing a comprehensive assessment of ecological integrity.
Unit	Index values ranging from 0 (no indicator species group) to 100 (intact)
Temporal Resolution	Annual Assessment
Spatial Resolution	1 ha or 1 km²
Data	Field data from camera traps, acoustic sensors, DNA, direct observations, aerial surveys or track counts.
Method	For each project, land stewards select species from a pre-approved list covering ten indicator species groups, aiming to confirm the presence of all groups. Observations must include the species name, location, timestamp, and supporting evidence such as photos, videos, acoustic recordings, or track data. These can be based on direct sightings or indirect signs like tracks, dung, or scratch marks. Indicator species scores are calculated by mapping species presence with buffers around observations. Confidence scores decrease over time and distance from the original sighting. Each species group is assigned a score from 0 (not detected) to 10 (all groups detected). These scores are then summed, normalized, and averaged to produce a final confidence score ranging from 0 to 100.