Glossary definitions

The intensively planned and carefully controlled implementation of timber harvesting operations to minimize the environmental impact on forest stands and soils.

Mechanism developed by Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It creates a financial value for the carbon stored in forests by offering incentives for developing countries to reduce emissions from forested lands and invest in low-carbon paths to sustainable development. Developing countries would receive results-based payments for results-based actions. REDD+ goes beyond simply deforestation and forest degradation, and includes the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks.

Planting of forests on lands that have previously contained forests but that have been converted to some other use.

Intentional replanting of trees and re- establishing a forest in areas that have been deforested.

A long-term qualitative behavior where the system’s dynamics tend to stabilize, at different spatial and temporal scales in marine, terrestrial and polar systems (Rocha et al., 2015).

Substantial reorganization in system structure, functions and feedbacks that often occurs abruptly and persists over time.

Persistent change in systems structure and function, which can be abrupt and difficult to reverse. Regime shifts in socio-ecological systems can have substantial impacts on ecosystem services.

adj. Pertaining to an area, especially part of a country or the world having definable characteristics but not always fixed boundaries.

Initiatives or other efforts to provide means by which organizations or individuals with a global region (such as the Asia-Pacific) can work together towards a common or mutual aim, or for common or mutual benefit. Examples include the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO).

Rehabilitation refers to restoration activities that move a site towards a natural state baseline in a limited number of components (i.e. soil, water, and/or biodiversity), including natural regeneration, conservation agriculture, and emergent ecosystems.

Restoration activities that may fall short of fully restoring a biotic community to its pre-degradation state, including natural regeneration and emergent ecosystems.

Restoration activities that move a site towards a natural state baseline in a limited number of components (i.e. soil, water, and/or biodiversity), including natural regeneration, conservation agriculture, and emergent ecosystems.

See “Values”.

The values that contribute to desirable relationships, such as those among people and between people and nature, as in Living in harmony with nature.

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.

See values.

Relational values refer to the importance of desirable, meaningful, and often reciprocal relationships - beyond means to an end - between humans and nature, and among humans (including across generations) through nature (e.g. sense of place, spirituality, responsibility, care, reciprocity, stewardship) (section 2.2.4.3).

Any action taken to rehabilitate ecosystems.

Methods for gathering data on a large or landscape scale which do not involve on-the ground measurement, especially satellite photographs and aerial photographs; often used in conjunction with Geographic Information Systems.

Methods for gathering data on a large or landscape scale which do not involve on-the ground measurement, especially satellite photographs and aerial photographs; often used in conjunction with Geographic Information Systems (IUCN, 2012a).

Remote sensing is the process of detecting and monitoring the physical characteristics of an area by measuring its reflected and emitted radiation at a distance from the targeted area. Special cameras collect remotely sensed imagesof the Earth, which help researchers sense things about the Earth.

Energy derived from natural processes (e.g. sunlight and wind) that are replenished at a faster rate than they are consumed. Solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, and some forms of biomass are common sources of renewable energy.

Rapid and complex change.

Reports shall mean the main deliverables of the Platform, including assessment reports and synthesis reports, their summaries for policymakers and technical summaries, technical papers and technical guidelines.

Scenarios that include time series of emissions and concentrations of the full suite of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosols and chemically active gases, as well as land use/land cover. (IPCC, 2014).

Scenarios that include time series of emissions and concentrations of the full suite of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and aerosols and chemically active gases, as well as land use/land cover. The word representative signifies that each RCP provides only one of many possible scenarios that would lead to the specific radiative forcing characteristics. The term pathway emphasizes that not only the long-term concentration levels are of interest, but also the trajectory taken over time to reach that outcome. RCPs usually refer to the portion of the concentration pathway extending up to 2100, for which Integrated Assessment Models produced corresponding emission scenarios.

The capacity of a socio- ecological system to absorb or withstand perturbations and other stressors such that the system remains within the same regime, essentially maintaining its structure and functions.

The level of disturbance that an ecosystem or society can undergo without crossing a threshold to a situation with different structure or outputs. Resilience depends on factors such as ecological dynamics as well as the organizational and institutional capacity to understand, manage and respond to these dynamics.

The level of disturbance that an ecosystem or society can undergo without crossing a threshold to a situation with different structure or outputs. Resilience depends on factors such as ecological dynamics as well as the organizational and institutional ca.

The level of disturbance that an ecosystem or society can undergo without crossing a threshold to a situation with different structure or outputs. Resilience depends on factors such as ecological dynamics as well as the organizational and institutional capacity to understand, manage, and respond to these dynamics.

for the purpose of this assessment, the ability of an ecosystem to adapt, withstand and respond to alien species invasions, recover rapidly from their impacts and continue to develop

See “scales”.

see spatial scale and temporal scale.

See scale.

This respect is expressed in/identified through ceremonies, rituals, actions in sacred sites whose purpose is to renew a sense of thankfulness and reverence/deep respect to the land or the sea (terrestrial or marine landscape) or to their components.

This is about integrity of ancestral territory leadership in caring for nature. Actions and behaviours that minimize or prohibit exploitative use of materials, no waste resources philosophies, awareness about sustainability for the future generations; and preservation of cultural knowledge (ancestor heritage). IPLCs and cultural identities are strongly connected to their lands (and seascapes). Their values often emerge in relation to their context and can become visible through issues related to the integrity of ancestral territory, leadership in caring for nature, actions and behaviours that minimize or prohibit exploitative use of materials within their lands or in other geographical terrains. A philosophy of zero waste of resources is enacted while thinking about the health and the future of the land (and sea), awareness about sustainability of the land (and sea) for the future generations; and preservation of cultural knowledge (ancestral heritage).

Any intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem from a degraded state. Active restoration includes a range of human interventions aimed at influencing and accelerating natural successional processes to recover biodiversity ecosystem service provision. Passive restoration includes reliance primarily on natural process of ecological succession to restore degraded ecosystems, but may include measures to protect a site from processes that currently prevent natural recovery (e.g. protection of degraded forests from overgrazing by livestock or unintentional human-induced fire).

Any intentional activities that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem from a degraded state.

any intentional activity that initiates or accelerates the recovery of an ecosystem from a degraded state (IPBES glossary). More specifically, in the context of invasive alien species management, it refers to the process of assisting the recovery of a degraded, damaged, or destroyed ecosystem, as a consequence of biological invasions, to reflect values regarded as inherent in the ecosystem and to provide goods and services that people value

vb. To put back into the previous condition.

Polluter pays principle, “Responsibility

Rewilding ensures natural processes and wild species play a much more prominent role in the land-and seascapes, meaning that after initial support, nature is allowed to take more care of itself. Rewilding helps landscapes become wilder, whilst also providing opportunities for modern society to reconnect with such wilder places for the benefits of all life.

The number of distinct biological entities (typically species, but also genotypes, taxonomic genera or families, etc.) within a given sample, community, or area (Millenium Ecosystem Assessment, 2005).

Ecological diversity of organisms and may be genetic to taxonomic (q.v. Biodiversity).

Ecological diversity of organisms, including genetic or taxonomic diversity (q.v. Biodiversity).

The number of biological entities (species, genotypes, etc.) within a given sample. Sometimes used as synonym of species diversity.

A group of people (a community and its individual members), with a common identity and a shared set of rules, who rightfully has title over their territory and the natural resources belonging to it. Being a right holder implies that the group’s wellbeing is promoted by the right, and that the group (and its individual members) have the capacity to exercise their self-determination related to the given territory. From an Indigenous perspective, Right holder refers to the collective rights and entitlements of Indigenous peoples, a group of people, and a community including all individual members, with a shared cosmovision/worldview, identity, beliefs, values, and ethics. They have inherent collective rights over their territories and natural resources. Implicit in having a right holder status implies that the holder of it promotes the group's well-being and can exercise their self-determination related to the given territory.

A conceptual framework for the process of human development that is normatively based on international human rights standards and operationally directed to promoting and protecting human rights.

see “Policy instruments”.

Approaches that consider international human rights law as a coherent system of principles and rules in the field of development, and uses it as a broad guide to conducting the cooperation and aid process; social participation in that process; the obligations of donor and recipient governments; the method of evaluating aid; and the accountability mechanisms that need to be established at the local and international levels.