Glossary definitions

The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part. This includes variation in genetic, phenotypic, phylogenetic, and functional attributes, as well as changes in abundance and distribution over time and space within and among species, biological communities and ecosystems.

The management of human interactions with genes, species, and ecosystems so as to provide the maximum benefit to the present generation while maintaining their potential to meet the needs and aspirations of future generations; encompasses elements of saving, studying, and using biodiversity.

A high number of species present in defined areas protects humans from infection from pathogens with an animal reservoir.

Biodiversity threat hotspots driven by global consumption of goods and services.

A generic term for an area high in such biodiversity attributes as species richness or endemism. It may also be used in assessments as a precise term applied to geographic areas defined according to two criteria (Myers et al 2000): (i) containing at least 1,500 species of the world's 300,000 vascular plant species as endemics; and (ii) having lost 70% of its primary vegetation.

A generic term for an area high in such biodiversity attributes as species richness or endemism. It may also be used in assessments as a precise term applied to geographic areas defined according to two criteria: (i) containing at least 1,500 species of the world's 300,000 vascular plant species as endemics, and (ii) having lost 70 per cent of its primary vegetation.

A generic term for an area high in such biodiversity attributes as species richness or endemism. It may also be used in assessments as a precise term applied to geographic areas defined according to two criteria: (i) containing at least 1,500 species of the world's 300,000 vascular plant species as endemics, and (ii) being under threat, in having lost 70% of its primary vegetation.

An indicator of the average abundance of a large and diverse set of organisms in a given geographical area, relative to their reference populations.

The reduction of any aspect of biological diversity (i.e. diversity at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels) is lost in a particular area through death (including extinction), destruction or manual removal; it can refer to many scales, from global extinctions to population extinctions, resulting in decreased total diversity at the same scale.

The reduction of any aspect of biological diversity (i.e. diversity at the genetic, species and ecosystem levels) that results from loss in a particular area through death (including extinction), destruction or manual removal; it can refer to many scales, from global extinctions to population extinctions, resulting in decreased total diversity at the same scale, adversely affecting human-environment connections and disrupting the flow of Nature’s contribution to people.

A tool proposed by developers and planners for compensating for the loss of biodiversity in one place by biodiversity gains in another.

A biodiversity offset is a tool proposed by developers and planners for compensating for the loss of biodiversity in one place by biodiversity gains in another.

Short for Biological diversity which is the variety of life on Earth. The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, among species and of ecosystems.

The variability among living organisms from all sources including, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

The variability among living organisms from all sources including terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are a part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.

A holistic, ecological, and ethical approach to farming, gardening, food, and nutrition. Biodynamic agriculture has been practiced for nearly a century, on every continent on Earth. Biodynamic principles and practices are based on the spiritual insights and practical suggestions of Dr. Rudolf Steiner, and have been developed through the collaboration of many farmers and researchers since the early 1920s. See also Conservation Agriculture.

The bioeconomy is the production, utilization, conservation, and regeneration of biological resources, including related knowledge, science, technology, and innovation, to provide sustainable solutions (information, products, processes and services) within and across all economic sectors and enable a transformation to a sustainable economy.

Land-based climate change mitigation strategy involving the planting of bioenergy crops or trees, which are burned in power stations or converted to biofuels, and the released CO2 being captured for long-term underground storage in geological reservoirs.

A future greenhouse gas mitigation technology which produces negative carbon dioxide emissions by combining bioenergy (energy from biomass) use with geologic carbon capture and storage.

Energy for industrial or commercial use that is derived from biological sources (such as plant matter or animal waste).

See 'Biofuel'.

Fuel made from biomass.

See 'Biofuel'.

Compounds that include organic atmospheric trace gases other than carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide; isoprenoids (isoprene and monoterpenes) are among the most prominent BVOC emitted (Kesselmeier & Staudt, 1999).

Biogeochemical cycles involve the fluxes of chemical elements among different parts of the Earth: from living to non-living, from atmosphere to land to sea, and from soils to plants.

The field of biogeochemistry deals with the effect of biological organisms on the chemistry of the Earth.

See also 'Biodiversity conservation'. Application of science to conservation problems addressing the biology of species, communities and the ecosystem that are perturbed either directly or indirectly by human or other agents. Its goal is to provide principles and tools for preserving biological diversity. The branch of biology that deals with threats to biodiversity and with preserving the biologic and genetic diversity of animals and plants.

A method of controlling pests such as insects, mites, weeds and plant diseases using other organisms. It relies on predation, parasitism, herbivory, or other natural mechanisms, but typically also involves an active human management role. It can be an important component of integrated pest management (IPM) programs.

the use of living organisms to suppress the population density or impact of a specific invasive alien species, making it less abundant or less damaging than it would otherwise be

See biodiversity.

a process involving the transport of a native species outside of its natural range, intentionally or unintentionally, by human activities to new regions where it may become established, spread and ultimately adversely impact nature, nature’s contributions to people, and good quality of life

See 'Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)'.

The fixation of carbon at the oceans' surface by photosynthesizing organisms and subsequent sinking of a sizable fraction (15-20%) of total productivity creates a strong vertical transport that dominates the distribution of carbon, nutrients, and oxygen in the ocean, known as the ‘biological pump’.

Biological resources include genetic resources, organisms or parts thereof, populations, or any other biotic component of ecosystems with actual or potential use or value for humanity.

In fisheries organizations, biological sustainable levels are usually defined according to MSY, which is the Maximum Sustainable Yield (or catch) that can be continuously taken from a stock under existing environmental conditions without affecting its reproductive potential. Two key levels are considered: to assess the sustainability of fishing on a given stock: FMSY which is the fishing mortality that is consistent with achieving MSY and BMSY that is the biomass that results from fishing at FMSY for a long time.

The mass of non-fossilized and biodegradable organic material in a given area or volume.

Biological material that can be used as fuel or for industrial production. Includes solid biomass such as wood, plant and animal products, gases and liquids derived from biomass, industrial waste and municipal waste.

see Biomass (ecology).

The mass of non-fossilized and biodegradable organic material originating from plants, animals and micro-organisms in a given area or volume.

Global-scale zones, generally defined by the type of plant life that they support in response to average rainfall and temperature patterns. For example, tundra, coral reefs or savannahs.

Biomes are global-scale zones, generally defined by the type of plant life that they support in response to average rainfall and temperature patterns. For example, tundra, coral reefs or savannas.

An assemblage of interacting biological and physical processes.

Measures of the importance of components of nature (living being or non-living element), of the processes that are derived from the interactions among these components, or of particular properties of those components and processes.

The process of searching for and subsequently developing new drugs based on biological resources.

The use of microorganisms to clean up polluted soil and water.

Strategy, efforts and planning to protect human, animal and environmental health against biological threats.

for the purpose of this assessment, a strategic and integrated approach that encompasses the policy and regulatory frameworks (including instruments and activities) for identifying, analysing and managing risks, including invasive alien species, to human, animal and plant life and health, and associated risks to the economy and the environment

The sum of all the ecosystems of the world. It is both the collection of organisms living on the Earth and the space that they occupy on part of the Earth's crust (the lithosphere), in the oceans (the hydrosphere) and in the atmosphere. The biosphere is all the planet's ecosystems.

All living organisms of an area; the flora and fauna considered as a unit.

Modern biotechnology means the application of: In vitro nucleic acid techniques, including recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and direct injection of nucleic acid into cells or organelles, or Fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family, that overcome natural physiological reproductive or recombination barriers and that are not techniques used in traditional breeding and selection.