Glossary definitions

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.

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.

A non- anthropocentric value is a value centred on something other than human beings. These values can be non-instrumental or instrumental to non-human ends.

A non-anthropocentric value is a value centered on something other than human beings. These values can be non-instrumental (e.g. a value ascribed to the existence of specific species for their own sake) or instrumental to non-human ends (e.g. the instrumental value a habitat has for the existence of a specific species).

A non-anthropocentric value is a value centred on something other than human beings. These values can be non- instrumental (e.g. a value ascribed to the existence of specific species for their own sake) or instrumental to non-human ends (e.g. the instrumental value a habitat has for the existence of a specific species).

Non-extractive practices are defined as practices based on the observation of wild species in a way that does not involve the harvest or removal of any part of the organism. The observation can imply some interaction with the wild species, such as the activities of wildlife and whale watching or no interaction with the wild species, such as remote photography.

See invasive alien species.

See values.

The value attributed to something as an end in itself, regardless of its utility for other ends.

Non-lethal harvest is defined as the temporary or permanent capture of live animals from their habitat without mortality, such as for the aquarium trade, pet trade or zoos, tag and release activities. Non-lethal harvest of animals also includes the parts or products of animals that do not lead to the mortality of the host, such as vicuna fiber, swift nests or wild honey.

Not arranged in a straight line, not sequential or straightforward.

The value attributable to an item or a service without relation to any acceptable cash price and for which a fixed or determinable amount of currency is absent (e.g. many ecosystem services, interpersonal good-will, health, etc.).

Non-timber forest products (NTFPs) are useful substances, materials and/or commodities obtained from forests which do not require harvesting (logging) trees. They include game animals, fur-bearers, nuts, seeds, berries, mushrooms, oils, foliage, pollarding, medicinal plants, peat, mast, fuelwood, fish, spices and forage.

Any biological resources found in forests other than timber, including fuel wood and small wood, nuts, seeds, oils, foliage, game animals, berries, medicinal plants, fish, spices, barks, and mushrooms, among others (Prasad, 1993).

A multitude of natural products (excluding timber) selectively harvested from the terrestrial environment for subsistence and commercial purposes.

see target- seeking scenarios.

Norms are rules about what is accepted behaviour. They are supporting underlying values as defined by a society. They are therefore ‘ought to’ statements defining what one may or may not do. Examples are rules about care for nature and what is just treatment of others.

A generic term for the nitrogen oxides most relevant for air pollution (NO and NO2) (Omidvarborna et al., 2015).

Nutrients that can be extracted by plant roots, generally from the soil (Silver, 1994).

A repeated pathway of a particular nutrient or element from the environment through one or more organisms and back to the environment. Examples include the carbon cycle, the nitrogen cycle and the phosphorus cycle.

The processes by which elements are extracted from their mineral, aquatic, or atmospheric sources or recycled from their organic forms, converting them to the ionic form in which biotic uptake occurs and ultimately returning them to the atmosphere, water, or soil.

Typically refers to checking model outputs for consistency with observations. However, since models cannot be validated in the formal sense of the term (i.e. proven to be true), some scientists prefer to use the words benchmarking or evaluation.

See models.

It is the process of documenting the existence of values, identifying when and where and by whom they are expressed, that in turn allows characterizing values. Valuation of nature can inform decision-making about numerous human-nature relationships; it can support decision processes about alternative projects or policies, inform the design of policy tools and instruments, for conservation and sustainable management of nature or to improve justice. Outside the formal policy space, valuation is also undertaken by academia, the private sector, non-governmental organizations and by indigenous and local communities (IPLC). IPLC undertake valuation not only to make decisions about nature, but also to assess their relationships with nature, to plan collectively, resolve conflicts, defend their territories, and as a means for strengthening and reciprocating their connections with nature.

Valuation approaches are higher level assumptions, ideas or beliefs that underpin methods. They translate key decisions on how a method is to be applied or how the information generated by methods is to be interpreted. For each approach there are often multiple accepted methods that adhere to the basic assumptions and ideas of the given approach. Valuation approaches can also be manifested as “traditions” or widely accepted and expected protocols for undertaking valuation. Valuation traditions are heavily informed and influenced by the cultural context and/or epistemological worldviews.

Are the specific techniques and accepted formal procedures that are applied to gather and analyse information from nature and society in order to and understand or make explicit the state of nature and its importance to people a) quantity, quality and status of nature including its spatial and temporal variations; b) the relevance or importance of nature to people and societies; and c) the nature of human-nature and nature-human relations in terms of how people and societies embed and live out their values of nature (as actions, principles, worldviews or philosophies).

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.

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: The importance that something has subjectively, and may be based on experience. The importance that something has in meeting objective needs. The intrinsic value of something.

A value can be a measure. In the biophysical sciences, any quantified measure can be seen as a value.

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.

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.

a contact network, which provides opportunities for the transmission of contagious diseases within and between sectors. It follows that these chains (networks) can be understood and taken into account in planning risk management strategies for disease prevention and control” especially in relation with “risky parts of the value chain”

Value change refers to the modification of people’s values or of the prioritization of their values in particular contexts. Value change processes occur at different social scales, from large-scale cultural shifts (e.g. intergenerational shifts due to changing demography or changes to shared values) to small-scale personal shifts (e.g. values formation and change over an individual’s lifetime). Individual, social and social-ecological experiences and interactions influence value change; examples include formal and informal education, social practices, group conformation processes, personal experiences and shocks, and social-ecological events (e.g. natural disasters, pandemics).

Values can be expressed explicitly through language and implicitly through actions like choices, decisions made, everyday practices or rituals. Valuation methods are used to undertake explicit valuation. Methods and approaches to integrate and bridge values, provide knowledge about nature’s values as input to decision-making.

'Value formation' refers to how values develop in the first place. It can occur in individual-focused processes, trough socially-oriented processes or in social-ecological processes that do not separate humans and nature.

Indicators of value are quantitative and qualitative measures of the importance of nature to people. Indicators used to express the value of nature can be biophysical, economic and socio-cultural.