the transformation of ecosystems has been driven by a number of developments notably habitat loss due to land use change conversion of forest to pasture for livestock grazing and to a lesser extent conversion for crop production continues to be the primary driver of deforestation other key drivers include degradation and fragmentation of habitats due to development of infrastructure extractive industries and hydropower overexploitation of biological resources due to subsistence and artisanal activities invasive alien species and pollution yet lack of information remains a key obstacle to decision making better information is particularly needed on habitat change outside forest ecosystems more precise information on a finer scale is needed to facilitate action in the decentralised environmental management system