Think Nature Develops New Metric to Measure the 'Maturity' of Marine Biodiversity Maps

The science team at Think Nature has developed a new metric to objectively evaluate the 'maturity' of global marine biodiversity knowledge, assessing whether it is stable based on sufficient data. This research provides a scientific guide for judging the 'veracity' of spatial data used in marine business, where evidence-based decision-making is critical for nature-positive initiatives, ESG investments, and TNFD (Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures) reporting.

Currently, biodiversity maps are essential for assessing the impact of corporate activities on nature and for promoting a sustainable blue economy. However, conventional maps have faced challenges such as data biases due to insufficient surveys, lacking a standard to judge the reliability of the maps. Uncertain data can lead to overlooked environmental risks or incorrect investment decisions.

In this study, the team curated and cleaned big data consisting of over 35 million occurrence records obtained from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS), analyzing 13 major marine taxa including fish, corals, algae, and crustaceans. The key innovation is the introduction of an 'Information Convergence' framework. Based on statistical learning principles, it quantifies how stable biodiversity patterns become as data accumulates, with a numerical value between 0 and 1.

The analysis revealed that high-interest groups like fish and reef-building corals show high convergence, indicating they have sufficient reliability as a foundation for regional environmental assessment. Conversely, indices for rare species (RWSR) proved highly unstable, suggesting risks when used for assessments like the STAR metric. Moving forward, this framework will serve as a guide for foundational research on where to prioritize surveys, while enabling companies to engage in transparent risk management and efficient investments in nature.