Glossary definitions

Observing is defined as a non-extractive practice that is based on the observation of wild species. The observation can imply some interaction with the wild species, such as the activities of wildlife tourism and whale watching or no interaction with the wild species, such as photography.

See acidification.

Large system of rotating ocean currents. There are five major gyres: the North and South Pacific Subtropical Gyres, the North and South Atlantic Subtropical Gyres, and the Indian Ocean Subtropical Gyre (NOAA, 2018c).

Oxygen-deficient layers in the ocean water column. OMZs correspond to subsurface oceanic zones reaching ultra-low values of O2 concentration (Paulmier & Ruiz-Pino, 2008).

An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution.

From an ecological point of view, old-growth forests are a stage of forest development characterized by large/old trees and structural complexity including live and dead trees, and vertical and horizontal heterogeneity (including a multi-layered canopy). The structural diversity of old growth forests often supports distinctive/specialist biodiversity; large/old trees are keystone components of the ecosystem (Lindenmayer et al., 2012). In addition, the long-period of forest development without stand replacement disturbance allows many poor-dispersing species to accumulate (IUFRO, 2018). Other definitions can be found based on economic and social perspectives (Hilbert & Wienscczyk, 2007).

Nutrient-poor environment (IUCN, 2012a).

Nutrient-poor environment.

interdisciplinary approach to biosecurity policy and research that builds on the interconnections between human, animal, plant, and environmental health to effectively prevent and mitigate the impacts of invasive alien species. It provides an integrated perspective to address the many biosecurity risks that transcend the traditional boundaries of health, agriculture, and the environment. Individual invasive alien plant and animal species often have multiple impacts across sectors: as hosts of zoonotic parasites, vectors of pathogens, pests of agriculture or forestry, as well as threats to biodiversity and ecosystem function

The One Health Initiative is a movement to forge co-equal, all inclusive collaborations between physicians, osteopathic physicians, veterinarians, dentists, nurses and other scientific-health and environmentally related disciplines.

an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent (One Health High-Level Expert Panel

The philosophical study of the nature of being, becoming, existence, or reality, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations.

The study or concern about what kinds of things exist - what entities there are in the universe. It is a branch of metaphysics,.

Marine ecosystems in the light-flooded (euphotic) zone.

The added cost of using resources (as for production or speculative investment) that is the difference between the actual value resulting from such use and that of an alternative (such as another use of the same resources or an investment of equal risk but greater return).

The foregone benefits of carrying out one activity in favor of another, or giving up their initial preferred land-use plan.

The potential ability to use some of nature’s benefits in the future, although they are not currently used, or the likelihood for their future use is low. It represents the willingness to preserve an option for the future enjoyment of nature’s benefits.

Any system that emphasizes the use of techniques such as crop rotation, compost or manure application, and biological pest control in preference to synthetic inputs. Most certified organic farming schemes prohibit all genetically modified organisms and almost all synthetic inputs. Its origins are in a holistic management system that avoids off-farm inputs, but some organic agriculture now uses relatively high levels of off-farm inputs.

Any system that emphasises the use of techniques such as crop rotation, compost or manure application, and biological pest control in preference to synthetic inputs. Most certified organic farming schemes prohibit all genetically modified organisms and almost all synthetic inputs. Its origins are in a holistic management system that avoids off-farm inputs, but some organic agriculture now uses relatively high levels of off-farm inputs.

Crop and livestock production using natural sources of nutrients (such as compost, crop residues, and manure) and natural methods of crop and weed control, instead of using synthetic or inorganic agrochemicals. Genetically modified organisms are not usually part of organic agriculture. It is also sometimes called low- input farming, but may involve high inputs of labour and be intensive in its practice.

A geographically defined area other than a protected area, which is governed and managed in ways that achieve positive and sustained long- term outcomes for the in situ conservation of biodiversity (CBD, 2018a).

Overexploitation means harvesting species from the wild at rates faster than natural populations can recover. Includes overfishing, and overgrazing.

Harvesting species from the wild at rates faster than natural populations can recover. Includes overfishing, and overgrazing.

Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, game reserves, or nature reserves. It can also be caused by immobile, travel restricted populations of native or non-native wild animals.

An excess of herbivory that leads to degradation of plant and soil resources.

Placing a number of animals on a given area that will result in overuse if continued to the end of the planned grazing period.

Any situation in which the current state of knowledge is such that: the order or nature of things is unknown, the consequences, extent, or magnitude of circumstances, conditions, or events is unpredictable, and credible probabilities to possible outcomes cannot be assigned. Uncertainty can result from lack of information or from disagreement about what is known or even knowable. Uncertainty can be represented by quantitative measures (e.g., a range of values calculated by various models) or by qualitative statements (e.g., reflecting the judgment of a team of experts).

Any situation in which the current state of knowledge is such that (1) the order or nature of things is unknown, (2) the consequences, extent, or magnitude of circumstances, conditions, or events is unpredictable, and (3) credible probabilities to possible outcomes cannot be assigned.

Any situation in which the current state of knowledge is such that: 1. the order or nature of things is unknown, the consequences, extent, or magnitude of circumstances, conditions, or events is unpredictable, and 2. credible probabilities to possible outcomes cannot be assigned. 3. Uncertainty can result from lack of information or from disagreement about what is known or even knowable. Uncertainty can be represented by quantitative measures (e.g. a range of values calculated by various models) or by qualitative statements (e.g. reflecting the judgment of a team of experts).

Any situation in which the current state of knowledge is such that: the order or nature of things is unknown, the consequences, extent, or magnitude of circumstances, conditions, or events is unpredictable, and credible probabilities to possible outcomes cannot be assigned. Uncertainty can result from lack of information or from disagreement about what is known or even knowable. Uncertainty can be represented by quantitative measures (e.g. a range of values calculated by various models) or by qualitative statements (e.g. reflecting the judgment of a team of experts).

see linguistic uncertainty, decision uncertainty, stochastic uncertainty, and scientific uncertainty.

Any situation in which the current state of knowledge is such that: (i). the order or nature of things is unknown; (ii). the consequences, extent, or magnitude of circumstances, conditions, or events is unpredictable; and (iii). credible probabilities to possible outcomes cannot be assigned. Uncertainty can result from lack of information or from disagreement about what is known or even knowable. Uncertainty can be represented by quantitative measures (e.g. a range of values calculated by various models) or by qualitative statements (e.g. reflecting the judgment of a team of experts).

The IPBES Units of Analysis result from subdividing the Earth’s surface into units solely for the purposes of analysis. The following have been identified as IPBES units of analysis globally: Terrestrial: Tropical and subtropical dry and humid forests Temperate and boreal forests and woodlands Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub Tundra and High Mountain habitats Tropical and subtropical savannas and grasslands Temperate Grasslands Deserts and xeric shrublands Wetlands - peatlands, mires, bogs Urban/Semi-urban Cultivated areas (incl. cropping, intensive livestock farming etc.) Aquatic, including both marine and freshwater: Cryosphere Aquaculture areas Inland surface waters and water bodies/freshwater Shelf ecosystems (neritic and intertidal/littoral zone) Open ocean pelagic systems (euphotic zone) Deep-Sea Coastal areas intensively used for multiple purposes by humans These IPBES terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis serve as a framework for comparison within and across assessments and represent a pragmatic solution. The IPBES terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis are not intended to be prescriptive for other purposes than those of IPBES assessments. They are likely to evolve as the work of IPBES develops.

The IPBES Units of Analysis result from subdividing the Earth's surface into units solely for the purposes of analysis. The following have been identified as IPBES units of analysis globally: Terrestrial: Tropical and subtropical dry and humid forests, Temperate and boreal forests and woodlands, Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub, Tundra and High Mountain habitats, Tropical and subtropical savannas and grasslands, Temperate Grasslands, Deserts and xeric shrublands, Wetlands - peatlands, mires, bogs, Urban/Semi-urban, Cultivated areas (incl. cropping, intensive livestock farming etc.).; Aquatic, including both marine and freshwater: Cryosphere, Aquaculture areas, Inland surface waters and water bodies/ freshwater, Shelf ecosystems (neritic and intertidal/ littoral zone), Open ocean pelagic systems (euphotic zone), Deep-Sea, Coastal areas intensively used for multiple purposes by humans.These IPBES terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis serve as a framework for comparison within and across assessments and represent a pragmatic solution. The IPBES terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis are not intended to be prescriptive for other purposes than those of IPBES assessments. They are likely to evolve as the work of IPBES develops.

The IPBES Units of Analysis result from subdividing the Earth's surface into units solely for the purposes of analysis. The following have been identified: IPBES units of analysis (terrestrial): Tropical and subtropical dry and humid forests; Temperate and boreal forests and woodlands; Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub; Tundra and High Mountain habitats; Tropical and subtropical savannas and grasslands; Temperate Grasslands; Deserts and xeric shrublands; Wetlands - peatlands, mires, bogs; Urban/Semi-urban; Cultivated areas (incl. cropping, intensive livestock farming etc.).; IPBES units of analysis (aquatic, including both marine and freshwater units):; Cryosphere; Aquaculture areas; Inland surface waters and water bodies/ freshwater; Shelf ecosystems (neritic and intertidal/ littoral zone); Open ocean pelagic systems (euphotic zone); Deep-Sea; Coastal areas intensively used for multiple purposes by humans.; These IPBES terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis serve as a framework for comparison within and across assessments and represent a pragmatic solution, which may evolve as the work of IPBES develops. The IPBES terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis serve the purposes of IPBES, and are not intended to be prescriptive for other purposes.

Units of analysis result from subdividing the Earth's surface into units solely for the purposes of analysis. The terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis serve as a framework for comparison within and across IPBES assessments and represent a pragmatic solution. The terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis used by IPBES are not intended to be prescriptive for purposes other than those of IPBES assessments. They are likely to evolve as the work of IPBES develops.

The IPBES Units of Analysis result from subdividing the Earth's surface into units solely for the purposes of analysis. The following have been identified: IPBES units of analysis (terrestrial): Tropical and subtropical dry and humid forests, Temperate and boreal forests and woodlands, Mediterranean forests, woodlands and scrub, Tundra and High Mountain habitats, Tropical and subtropical savannas and grasslands, Temperate Grasslands, Deserts and xeric shrublands, Wetlands - peatlands, mires, bogs, Urban/Semi-urban, Cultivated areas (incl. cropping, intensive livestock farming etc.).; IPBES units of analysis (aquatic, including both marine and freshwater units): Cryosphere, Aquaculture areas, Inland surface waters and water bodies/ freshwater, Shelf ecosystems (neritic and intertidal/ littoral zone), Open ocean pelagic systems (euphotic zone), Deep-Sea, Coastal areas intensively used for multiple purposes by humans. These IPBES terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis serve as a framework for comparison within and across assessments and represent a pragmatic solution, which may evolve as the work of IPBES develops. The IPBES terrestrial and aquatic units of analysis serve the purposes of IPBES, and are not intended to be prescriptive for other purposes.

The IPBES Units of Analysis result from subdividing the Earth?s surface into units solely for the purposes of analysis. The following have been identified as IPBES units of analysis globally:Terrestrial:Tropical and subtropical dry and humid forestsTem.

Something difficult or impossible to foretell or foresee.

Multiple independent studies exist but conclusions do not agree.

Each of a series of Hindu sacred treatises written in Sanskrit c.800-200 BC, expounding the Vedas in predominantly mystical and monistic terms.

The process of scaling information from local, fine-grained resolution to global, coarse-grained resolution.

A process in which deep, cold water rises toward the surface replacing warmer water pushed away by winds. Water that rises to the surface as a result of upwelling is typically colder and rich in nutrients, which “fertilize” surface waters, meaning that these surface waters often have high biological productivity.

adj. Pertaining to the built-up, human- inhabited environment (cities, towns, villages, etc.).

Any ecological system located within a city or other densely settled area or, in a broader sense, the greater ecological system that makes up an entire metropolitan area (Pickett, 2018).

The term heat island describes built up areas that are hotter than nearby rural areas.

A method to evaluate the flows of energy and materials within an urban system, which can provide insights into the system's sustainability and the severity of urban problems such as excessive social, community, and household metabolism at scales ranging from global to local.

The increase in the proportion of a population living in urban areas; the process by which a large number of people becomes permanently concentrated in relatively small areas, forming cities.

Increase in the proportion of a population living in urban areas; process by which a large number of people becomes permanently concentrated in relatively small areas, forming cities.

The process by which villages, towns, cities and other built-up areas grow or by which societies become more urban.