Glossary definitions

Value systems: Set of values according to which people, societies and organizations regulate their behaviour. Value systems can be identified in both individuals and social groups (Pascual et al., 2017). Value (as principle): A value can be a principle or core belief underpinning rules and moral judgments. Values as principles vary from one culture to another and also between individuals and groups (IPBES/4/INF/13).Value (as preference): A value can be the preference someone has for something or for a particular state of the world. Preference involves the act of making comparisons, either explicitly or implicitly. Preference refers to the importance attributed to one entity relative to another one (IPBES/4/INF/13). Value (as importance): A value can be the importance of something for itself or for others, now or in the future, close by or at a distance. This importance can be considered in three broad classes. 1. The importance that something has subjectively, and may be based on experience. 2. The importance that something has in meeting objective needs. 3. The intrinsic value of something (IPBES/4/INF/13).Value (as measure): A value can be a measure. In the biophysical sciences, any quantified measure can be seen as a value (IPBES/4/INF/13).Non-anthropocentric value: A non-anthropocentric value is a value centered on something other than human beings. These values can be non-instrumental or instrumental to non-human ends (IPBES/4/INF/13).Intrinsic value: This concept refers to inherent value, that is the value something has independent of any human experience or evaluation. Such a value is viewed as an inherent property of the entity and not ascribed or generated by external valuing agents (Pascual et al., 2017).Anthropocentric value: The value that something has for human beings and human purposes (Pascual et al., 2017).Instrumental value: The value attributed to something as a means to achieving a particular end (Pascual et al., 2017).Non-instrumental value: The value attributed to something as an end in itself, regardless of its utility for other ends.Relational value: The values that contribute to desirable relationships, such as those among people or societies, and between people and nature, as in Living in harmony with nature (IPBES/4/INF/13).Integrated valuation: The process of collecting, synthesizing, and communicating knowledge about the ways in which people ascribe importance and meaning of NCP to humans, to facilitate deliberation and agreement for decision making and planning (Pascual et al., 2017).

Those actions, processes, entities or objects that are worthy or important to a particular human population (sometimes values may also refer to moral principles).

Values reflect life goals, beliefs and general guiding principles. They also reflect the opinions or judgements of the importance of specific things in particular situations and contexts. When considering the values of nature, values can refer to nature itself, how nature contributes to people’s quality of life, in addition to the way people express the value of life-supporting processes, functions, and systems - interrelating biophysical, spiritual, or symbolic aspects. Within the assessment we refer to broad, specific values and value indicators; as well as to instrumental, intrinsic and relational values.

Is the more implicit act of assigning a value to something, which, in contrast to valuation, does not necessarily follow an explicit and formal process. Thus, while we all go through the process of ‘valuing’ on a daily basis for our day-to-day decisions, valuation is most often an exercise that is undertaken by 'experts' or a specifically designed team systematically applying a specific method.

Refers to how a species is transported, that is, the physical means or agent.

Any living or non-living carrier that transports living organisms intentionally or unintentionally

Disease causing agents that are spread from host to host by living or non-living agent. For example, malaria is transmitted to humans by mosquitos.

The volume of freshwater used to produce the commodity, good or service, measured at the place where the product was actually produced.

In global trade, the difference between water used to produce export products and the water used to produce import products.

A desirable future (an endpoint in time) which we want to achieve. Visions usually consist of statements depicting the explicit desires, assumptions, beliefs and paradigms that underlie the desired future.

“Visions” are descriptions of a desirable future (an endpoint in time), which society or parts of society want to achieve. They usually consist of statements depicting orienting goals, and the assumptions, beliefs and paradigms that underlie the desired future. Visions can take the form of policy targets, but can also be formulated by a range of actors, e.g. from the private sector to address business targets or civil society to address social targets.

The process of converting a chemical substance from a liquid or solid state to a gaseous or vapour state.

The inability (of a system or a unit) to withstand the effects of a hostile environment, such as ecosystem and human society. The quality or state of being exposed to the possibility of being damaged.

The propensity or predisposition to be adversely affected. Vulnerability encompasses a variety of concepts and elements including sensitivity or susceptibility to harm and lack of capacity to cope and adapt.

Those individuals or groups who have a greater probability than the population as a whole of being harmed and experiencing an impaired quality of life because of social, environmental, health, or economic conditions or policies.