Glossary definitions

Direct drivers that are not the result of human activities and are beyond human control.

The effects of natural hazards, which are natural processes or phenomena occurring in the biosphere that may constitute a damaging event. Natural disasters can be for instance: earthquakes, floods, landslide, volcanic eruption, etc.

Areas composed of viable assemblages of plant and/or animal species of largely native origin and/or where human activity had not essentially modified an area's primary ecological functions and species composition (UNEP-WCMC, 2014).

Areas composed of viable assemblages of plant and/or animal species of largely native origin and/or where human activity had not essentially modified an area's primary ecological functions and species composition.

Natural features, geological and physiographical formations and delineated areas that constitute the habitat of threatened species of animals and plants and natural sites of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty (UNESCO, 1972).

Natural features, geological and physiographical formations and delineated areas that constitute the habitat of threatened species of animals and plants and natural sites of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science, conservation or natural beauty.

A species that, once it is introduced outside its native distributional range, establishes self-sustaining populations.

In the context of IPBES, refers to the natural world with an emphasis on its living components. Within the context of western science, it includes categories such as biodiversity, ecosystems (both structure and functioning), evolution, the biosphere, humankind’s shared evolutionary heritage, and biocultural diversity. Within the context of other knowledge systems, it includes categories such as Mother Earth and systems of life, and it is often viewed as inextricably linked to humans, not as a separate entity (see Mother Earth).

In the context of IPBES, nature refers to the natural world with an emphasis on its living components. Within the context of Western science, it includes categories such as biodiversity, ecosystems (both structure and functioning), evolution, the biosphere, humankind's shared evolutionary heritage, and biocultural diversity. Within the context of other knowledge systems, it includes categories such as Mother Earth and systems of life, and it is often viewed as inextricably linked to humans, not as a separate entity (see Mother Earth).

In the context of the Platform, refers to the natural world with an emphasis on biodiversity. Within the context of western science, it includes categories such as biodiversity, ecosystems (both structure and functioning), evolution, the biosphere, humankind's shared evolutionary heritage, and biocultural diversity. Within the context of other knowledge systems, it includes categories such as Mother Earth and systems of life, and it is often viewed as inextricably linked to humans, not as a separate entity.

In the context of the Platform, refers to the natural world with an emphasis on its living components. Within the context of Western science, it includes categories such as biodiversity, ecosystems (both structure and functioning), evolution, the biosphere, humankind's shared evolutionary heritage, and biocultural diversity. Within the context of other knowledge systems, it includes categories such as Mother Earth and systems of life, and it is often viewed as inextricably linked to humans, not as a separate entity (see Mother Earth).

The natural world, with particular emphasis on biodiversity.

In the context of IPBES, refers to the natural world with an emphasis on its living components. Within the context of western science, it includes categories such as biodiversity, ecosystems (both structure and functioning), evolution, the biosphere, humankind's shared evolutionary heritage, and biocultural diversity. Within the context of other knowledge systems, it includes categories such as Mother Earth and systems of life, and it is often viewed as inextricably linked to humans, not as a separate entity (see Mother Earth).

The living parts of the biosphere, including their diversity and abundance and functional interactions with one another and with the abiotic parts of the earth system. Increasingly, nature is modified by human influences. Many features of nature have been co-produced by humans.This is a definition specifically made for the IPBES-IPCC workshop report, since neither IPBES nor IPCC has an existing definition. The closest is the IPBES Global Assessment Chapter 1 box 1.2 definition of Nature: Nature: the nonhuman world, including co- produced features, with particular emphasis on living organisms, their diversity, their interactions among themselves and with their abiotic environment.”

Nature-based recreation may be defined as all forms of leisure that rely on the natural environment (Jacobs & Cottrell, 2015). In the context of this assessment, it may involve extractive practices (i.e. fishing, gathering, terrestrial animal harvesting) or non-extractive practices (i.e. observing).

Nature-based solutions are actions to protect, sustainably manage and restore natural or modified ecosystems that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits.

Actions to protect, sustainably manage, and restore natural or modified ecosystems, that address societal challenges effectively and adaptively, simultaneously providing human well-being and biodiversity benefits (Cohen-Shacham et al., 2016).

Nature-based tourism is the activities of persons traveling to natural areas outside their usual environment for leisure and other purposes (based on UNWTO, glossary). In the context of this assessment, it may involve extractive practices (i.e. fishing, gathering, terrestrial animal harvesting) or non-extractive practices (i.e. observing.

All the contributions, both positive and negative, of living nature (i.e. all organisms, ecosystems, and their associated ecological and evolutionary processes) to people’s quality of life. Beneficial contributions include e.g. food provision, water purification, flood control, and artistic inspiration, whereas detrimental contributions include e.g. disease transmission and predation that damages people or their assets. NCP may be perceived as benefits or detriments depending on the cultural, temporal or spatial context (Díaz et al., 2018). IPBES considers a gradient of approaches to NCP, ranging from a purely generalizing approach to a purely context-specific one. Within the generalizing approach, IPBES identifies 18 categories of NCP, organized in three partially overlapping groups: Material contributions are substances, objects or other material elements from nature that directly sustain people’s physical existence and material assets. They are typically physically consumed in the process of being experienced, for example when organisms are transformed into food, energy, or materials for clothing, shelter or ornamental purposes. Non-material contributions are nature’s effects on subjective or psychological aspects underpinning people’s quality of life, both individually and collectively. Examples include forests and coral reefs providing opportunities for recreation and inspiration, or particular organism (animals, plants, fungi) or habitat (mountains, lakes) being the basis of spiritual or social-cohesion experiences. Regulating contributions are functional and structural aspects of organisms and ecosystems that modify environmental conditions experienced by people, and/or regulate the generation of material and non- material contributions. Regulating contributions frequently affect quality of life in indirect ways. For example, people directly enjoy useful or beautiful plants, but only indirectly the soil organisms that are essential for the supply of nutrients to such plants.

All the contributions, both positive and negative, of nature (i.e. biodiversity, ecosystems, and their associated ecological and evolutionary processes) to good quality of life for humanity. The positive contributions from nature (benefits) include such things as food provision, water purification, and artistic inspiration, whereas negative contributions (detriments), include e.g. pathogens, disease vectors, or predation that damage people, their built infrastructure, or their domesticated animals and plants. While some NCP are considered exclusively positive or negative, many NCP may be perceived as benefits or detriments depending on the cultural context.

All the contributions, both positive and negative, of living nature (i.e. diversity of organisms, ecosystems, and their associated ecological and evolutionary processes) to the quality of life of people. This is the core IPBES definition (which is used by IPCC in AR6 Special Reports). The IPBES definition goes on to elaborate as follows: “Beneficial contributions from nature include such things asfood provision, water purification, flood control, and artistic inspiration, whereas detrimental contributions include disease transmission and predation that damages people or their assets. Many NCP may be perceived as benefits or detriments depending on the cultural, temporal or spatial context.” The creation of a new term to supersede ecosystem services had several justifications. First, the original ecosystem services definition went on to define four subtypes (provisioning, cultural, regulatory and supporting), but practitioners recognized that many services fit into more than one of the four categories. Secondly, IPBES wished to make explicit that positive and negative effects were included. Thirdly, the term ‘services’ had its origin in economics, which was perceived in some worldviews to be too narrow a formulation of the relationships between nature and people. The new language is considered more inclusive.

all the contributions, both positive and negative, of living nature (i.e., diversity of organisms, ecosystems, and their associated ecological and evolutionary processes) to the quality of life for people. Beneficial contributions from nature include such things as food provision, water purification, flood control, and artistic inspiration, whereas detrimental contributions include disease transmission and predation that damages people or their assets. Many nature’s contributions to people may be perceived as benefits or detriments depending on the cultural, temporal or spatial context.

Within the context of the IPBES Conceptual Framework - all the benefits (and occasionally disbenefits or losses) that humanity obtains from nature.

All the contributions, both positive and negative, of nature (i.e. biodiversity, ecosystems, and their associated ecological and evolutionary processes) to good quality of life of people. Beneficial contributions from nature include such things as food provision, water purification, flood control, and artistic inspiration, whereas detrimental contributions include disease transmission and predation that damages people or their assets. Many NCP may be perceived as benefits or detriments depending on the cultural, temporal or spatial context.

all the contributions, both positive and negative, of living nature (i.e. all organisms, ecosystems, and their associated ecological and evolutionary processes) to people’s quality of life. Beneficial contributions include food provision, water purification, flood control, and artistic inspiration, whereas detrimental contributions include e.g. disease transmission and predation that damages people or their assets. NCP may be perceived as benefits or detriments depending on the cultural, temporal or spatial context (Díaz et al., 2018). IPBES considers a gradient of approaches to NCP, ranging from a purely generalizing approach to a purely context-specific one. Within the generalizing approach, IPBES identifies 18 categories of NCP, organized in three partially overlapping groups: Material contributions are substances, objects or other material elements from nature that directly sustain people’s physical existence and material assets. They are typically physically consumed in the process of being experienced, for example when organisms are transformed into food, energy, or materials for clothing, shelter or ornamental purposes. Non-material contributions are nature’s effects on subjective or psychological aspects underpinning people’s quality of life, both individually and collectively. Examples include forests and coral reefs providing opportunities for recreation and inspiration, or particular organism (animals, plants, fungi) or habitat (mountains, lakes) being the basis of spiritual or social- cohesion experiences. Regulating contributions are functional and structural aspects of organisms and ecosystems that modify environmental conditions experienced by people, and/or regulate the generation of material and non-material contributions. Regulating contributions frequently affect quality of life in indirect ways. For example, people directly enjoy useful or beautiful plants, but only indirectly the soil organisms that are essential for the supply of nutrients to such plants.

Benefits from nature that do not take a physical form such as spiritual enrichment, intellectual development, recreation and aesthetic values.

The capacity of an ecosystem to provide NCP (see Chapter 2.3).

The actual flow of NCP that humanity receives. Realized NCP typically depends not only on potential NCP but also anthropogenic assets (e.g. boats and fishing gear, or farm equipment), human labor, and institutions. Institutions can facilitate or prevent.

Ozone near the earth surface formed photochemically during the oxidation of hydrocarbons in the presence of nitrogen oxides.

Recently diverged taxa that are endemic because of lack of dispersal/migration out of their ancestral area, as opposed to paleo-endemic taxa that were perhaps more widespread in the past and are now restricted to a local region (Mishler et al., 2014).

The degree to which species (plants or pollinators) with few interaction links share a sub-set of the links of other species, rather than having a different set of links. In highly nested networks, groups of species that share more or less similar activities contain both generalist species (q.v.) (i. e., with many links) and specialist species (q.v.) (i. e., with few links, but shared with the generalists). In mutualistic networks, such as pollination, nestedness is often asymmetrical (q.v.), with specialists of one group (plants or pollinators) linked to the generalists of the partner group (pollinators or plants).

The amount of carbon accumulating or lost in ecosystems at the regional scale is the Net Biome Production (NBP), defined as the NEP corrected for lateral transfers of carbon to adjacent biomes, due to process such as trade in agricultural products, export of organic matter in rivers and losses due to disturbances, including land clearing and wildfire.

The amount of NPP left in the ecosystem after the additional respiration by microbes and animals is the Net Ecosystem Production (NEP).

A net gain to biodiversity features measured in quality hectares (for habitats), number or percentage of individuals (for species), or other metrics appropriate to the feature.

The value in the present of a sum of money, in contrast to some future value it will have when it has been invested at compound interest.

The difference between how much CO2 vegetation takes in during photosynthesis (gross primary production) minus how much CO2 the plants release during respiration (NASA Earth Observatory, 2018). It corresponds to the increase in plant biomass or carbon of.

The total mass of carbon taken out of the atmosphere by plant photosynthesis (Gross Primary Production) minus return to the atmosphere of carbon due to autotrophic respiration.

A network is an informal arrangement where two or more autonomous individuals and/or organizations come together to exchange ideas, build relationships, identify common interests, explore options on how to work together, share power, and solve problems of mutual interest. Network governance commonly emerges when people realize that they cannot solve a particular problem or issue by working independently and that the only way to achieve their interests is by actively collaborating. Network governance varies in terms of objectives, spatial scales, leadership, representation, organization, and complexity. It is designed to supplement, not replace, other forms of natural resource governance.

A perspective which emphasizes the inter-relatedness and interdependencies of ecosystem components and human uses, and their dynamics and fluxes across spatial scales and between compartments. Instead of just looking at individual components, the functioning, productivity and management of a complex system is taken into consideration. In such complex systems there are trade-offs as well as facilitation and amplification between the different components. A nexus approach can help address synergies and trade-offs among multiple sectors and among various Sustainable Development Goals and biodiversity targets simultaneously (adapted from UNU-FLORES, 2018; also see Chapter 5).

A perspective which emphasizes the inter-relatedness and interdependencies of ecosystem components and human uses, and their dynamics and fluxes across spatial scales and between compartments. Instead of just looking at individual components, the functioning, productivity and management of a complex system is taken into consideration. In such complex systems there are trade-offs as well as facilitation and amplification between the different components. A nexus approach can help address synergies and trade- offs among multiple sectors and among various Sustainable Development Goals and biodiversity targets simultaneously.

interlinkages among biodiversity, climate change, adaptation and mitigation including relevant aspects of the energy system, water, food, and health

A species’ position within an ecosystem. This definition includes both the abiotic and biotic conditions necessary for the species to be able to persist (e.g. temperature range, food sources) and its ecological role, function or job (Polechová & Storch.

A species’ position within an ecosystem. This definition includes both the abiotic and biotic conditions necessary for the species to be able to persist (e.g. temperature range, food sources) and its ecological role, function or “job.

Also known as species distribution models, niche models predict the spatial distribution of a species as a function of environmental variables. They are often used to project the future distributions of species in response to climate change.

A spatially explicit and globally available empirical measurement of human development derived solely from night-time satellite imagery and population density.

The nitrogen transferred from the atmosphere to the Earth’s surface by the processes of wet deposition and dry deposition.

Describes the input of reactive nitrogen from the atmosphere to the biosphere both as gases, dry deposition and in precipitation as wet deposition.

Plants, such as legumes, living in symbiosis with micro-organisms in their roots that can perform biological nitrogen fixation, i.e. convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3). Plants can then assimilate NH3 to produce biomolecules (Wagner, 2011).

Plants, such as legumes, living in symbiosis with micro-organisms in their roots that can perform biological nitrogen fixation, i.e. convert atmospheric nitrogen (N2) to ammonia (NH3). Plants can then assimilate NH3 to produce biomolecules.

See values.