2.5.2: Proportion of local breeds classified as being at risk, not-at-risk or at unknown level of risk of extinction

## Definition

This indicator presents the percentage of animal or livestock breeds at risk (or not at risk or unknown level of risk) at a certain moment in time. “Risk” includes breeds classified as critical, critical-maintained, endangered, or endangered-maintained. This indicator directly links to “biodiversity” as animal or livestock represent an integral part of agricultural ecosystems. It indirectly links to “malnutrition” as animal or livestock are an essential part of food security and contribute to the livelihoods of populations worldwide.

## Rice Impacts

Biodiversity is an indicator of health in a landscape. Human activity has affected wildlife in hotspots that are prime rice producing areas. Rice cultivation is a driver for deforestation, resulting in biodiversity loss and greenhouse gas emissions among other impacts. For example, in Indonesia, the Kalimantan Mega Rice Project resulted in the draining and clearing of 1 million hectares of peat swamp forests for rice cultivation. In addition to impacting rare species such as orangutans and slow-growing trees, this land conversion is credited with contributing to massive peat fires that destroyed remaining forests and wildlife. Peatlands are an important carbon sink, with their burning releasing the massive stores of soil carbon and greenhouse gases. In Myanmar, the Irrawaddy Delta mangrove forests shrank by 64.2 percent from 1978 to 2011, with much of the area now used by small-scale farmers to grow rice. Mangroves help to fight coastal erosion, reduce effects of extreme weather events, and are among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics. In Tanzania, loss in primary forest is shown to have high correlation (75.5 percent) to yearly rice production.

Pesticide overuse in rice cultivation harms biodiversity and is a threat to farmer health and consumer food safety. Overuse of pesticide is common among farmers and can lead to increased pest outbreaks. Natural insect enemies of the rice pests are also killed when pesticides are applied. This can lead to further outbreak of rice pests, even heavier chemical use, and increased health exposures. Improper pesticide use can contaminate water sources for human consumption and animal species upon which humans rely for nutrition.

Yet, rice fields as man-made wetlands can be a great platform to rehabilitate the area. The area of rice wetlands have increased by 30.2% globally from 1965 to 2014, and are increasingly being used for aquaculture.  Wetlands are popular spots for waterbirds who feed on insects and fish that generally appear in or near rice fields. In China, for example, some innovation can help make rice fields a suitable living environment for fish and frogs.

## Overlaps with SRP Instruments

Growing rice sustainably should not lead to declines in species of conservation concern, or degradation of the environment. SRP monitors both the impacts of rice cultivation on wildlife and the impacts of wildlife on rice cultivation, as rice cultivation must be viewed within the context of a thriving and productive ecosystem that is beneficial to people and biodiversity alike.

SRP also works with farmers with surveys to understand that good crop management practices must not result in loss of natural habitats especially protected areas, Key Biodiversity Areas, etc. (land conversion is linked with loss of biodiversity and release of greenhouse gases) and can result in a favorable tilting of the ecological balance between pests and beneficial organisms (a healthy balance is linked with reducing farmer’s input costs from use chemical or lethal control of pests). SRP is also working with members like WWF-Pakistan and the WCS to develop country-specific biodiversity checklists that make the distinction between 'Beneficial', 'Harmful', 'Invasive', and 'Endangered' to support assessment.

* SRP Standard for Sustainable Rice Cultivation
	+ 6: Land conversion and biodiversity
	+ 7: Invasive species
	+ 18.1 - 18.6: Integrated pest management (weeds, insects, disease, molluscs, rodents, birds)
* SRP Performance Indicators
	+ 7: Biodiversity

## References

1. ↑ SDG Metadata 2.5.2
2. ↑ Hotspots of human impact on threatened terrestrial vertebrates - PLOS Biology
3. ↑ Global biodiversity loss from tropical deforestation
4. ↑ Carbon Bomb: Indonesia’s Failed Mega Rice Project
5. ↑ Deforestation in Borneo
6. ↑ Peatlands and Climate
7. ↑ Mangroves in the Irrawaddy Delta Could Be Gone in a ‘Few Decades’
8. ↑ In Myanmar’s Irrawaddy Delta a rapidly disintegrating mangrove forest
9. ↑ Deforestation in the Ayeyarwady Delta and the conservation implications of an internationally-engaged Myanmar
10. ↑ Mangroves among the most carbon-rich forests in the tropics
11. ↑ USDA Custom Query for Tanzania, Milled Rice Production
12. ↑ Deforestation Statistics for Tanzania - Mongabay
13. ↑ How to manage pests and diseases
14. ↑ Toxic hazards
15. ↑ Global Wetland Outlook 2018 - Ramsar
16. ↑ Why Study Birds in Rice Fields? - Elphick, Chris S.
17. ↑ Biodiversity Conservation in Rice Paddies in China: Toward Ecological Sustainability
18. ↑ SRP Performance Indicators Version 2.0
19. ↑ Environmental impacts of wetland rice cultivation