Glossary definitions

A part of the Earth’s surface that contains the soil layer.

Organisms that live in the water column.

A collaboration initiated in 1992 between the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), UNESCO-MAB and the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew on the promotion of ethnobotany and the equitable and sustainable use of plant resources.

The first stage of the human cognitive process. Perceptions are not neutral as they pass through rational and emotional filters which assess and interpret the relevancy of what people see. These filters are conditioned by individual experience, education, and by collective worldviews. See also Reality; Concepts”; Worldviews”.

See annual.

See Conservation agriculture.

Perennially frozen ground that occurs wherever the temperature remains below 0°C for several years.

Perennially frozen ground that occurs wherever the temperature remains below 0°C for several years. Ground (soil or rock and included ice and organic material) that remains at or below 0°C for at least two consecutive years.

The porosity of soils to allow water to pass through it.

Organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. Because of their persistence, persistent organic pollutants bioaccumulate with potential adverse impacts on human health and the environment.

Organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. POPs persist in the environment for long periods, are capable of long-range transport, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue and biomagnify in food chains, and have potentially significant impacts on human health and the environment. Exposure to POPs can cause serious health problems including certain cancers, birth defects, dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems, greater susceptibility to disease and even diminished intelligence.

Chemicals of global concern due to their potential for long-range transport, persistence in the environment, ability to bio-magnify and bio-accumulate in ecosystems, as well as their significant negative effects on human health and the environment.

Organic compounds that are resistant to environmental degradation through chemical, biological, and photolytic processes. POPs persist in the environment for long periods, are capable of long-range transport, bioaccumulate in human and animal tissue and biomagnify in food chains, and have potentially significant impacts on human health and the environment. Exposure to POPs can cause serious health problems including certain cancers, birth defects, dysfunctional immune and reproductive systems, greater susceptibility to disease and even diminished intelligence.

An animal, plant, fungus, or other organism that thrives in places where it is not wanted by people, e.g. in fields, with livestock, in forests, gardens, etc.

A substance that kills pests (q.v.). Pesticides may be synthetic chemicals, natural chemicals, or biological agents.

A pesticide is any substance used to kill, repel, or control certain forms of plant or animal life that are considered to be pests.

Changes in species phenology, mostly as a result of climate change (Scranton & Amarasekare, 2017).

The study of the relationship between climate and the timing of periodic natural phenomena such as migration of birds, bud bursting, or flowering of plants.

The study of the relationship between climate and the timing of periodic natural phenomena such as migration of birds, bud bursting, or flowering of plants (IUCN, 2012a).

The timing of seasonal activities of animals and plants such as bud burst, flowering, fruiting, migration. Also used to refer to the study of such natural phenomena that recur periodically (e.g. development stages, migration) and their relation to climate and seasonal changes.

The characteristics of an individual resulting from interaction between its genotype (genetic constitution) and its environment (IUCN, 2012a). These characteristics often include behavior, physiology (e.g. oxygen consumption, heart rate), life history (e.

The characteristics of an individual resulting from interaction between its genotype (genetic constitution) and its environment (IUCN, 2012a).These characteristics often include behavior, physiology (oxygen consumption, heart rate), life history (e.g. body size, age, offspring number), or morphology (e.g. body proportions).

A distinct variant of a phenotypic characteristic of an organism; it may be either inherited or determined environmentally, but typically occurs as a combination of the two (Lawrence, 2005).

A distinct variant of a phenotypic characteristic of an organism; it may be either inherited or determined environmentally, but typically occurs as a combination of the two.

An ability to alter growth form to suit current conditions without genetic change.

The capacity of a single genotype to exhibit a range of phenotypes in response to variation in the environment (Whitman & Agrawal, 2009).

Although species richness is a commonly used measure of biodiversity, it fails to capture the reality that species without close relatives contribute more uniqueness than do species with many close relatives. Phylogenetic diversity is used as a general term for a range of measures that consider the total length of all the branches linking a set of species on their phylogeny (“evolutionary tree”) and so reflect species’ evolutionary uniqueness. One of the first such measures is simply the sum of the branch lengths.

Although species richness is a commonly used measure of biodiversity, it fails to capture the reality that species without close relatives contribute more uniqueness than do species with many close relatives. Phylogenetic diversity is used as a general te.

Phylogenetic diversity (PD) describes the breadth of evolutionary history that is represented among the organisms found in a particular area. It can capture both the diversity of ecological functions that are represented, and perhaps more importantly for human well-being, the evolutionary potential of a community to respond to future stressors.

Is a measure of spatial restriction of phylogenetic diversity. In other words, PE is a relative measure of endemism that represents the degree to which lineages or branches of the tree of life (calculated in my) are restricted spatially.

A major taxonomic grouping of animals linked by having a similar general body plan and thought to be a clade. In plants the similar category is called a division (Lawrence, 2005).

The positive effect of green vegetation in landscapes on human beings.

The autotrophic components of the plankton community and a key part of oceans, seas and freshwater basin ecosystems.

The safe operating space for humanity with respect to the Earth system and are associated with the planet’s biophysical subsystems or processes.

Aquatic organisms that drift or swim weakly. Phytoplankton are the plant forms of plankton (e.g., diatoms), and are the dominant plants in the sea. Zooplankton are the animal forms of plankton. Picoplankton are all forms of plankton which size is comprised between 0.2 and 2 micrometers (mostly bacteria).

Typically microscopic aquatic organisms that drift or swim weakly. Phytoplankton are the plant forms of plankton (e.g. diatoms), and are the dominant plants in the sea. Zooplankton are the animal forms of plankton.

Aquatic organisms that drift or swim weakly. Phytoplankton are the plant forms of plankton (e.g. diatoms), and are the dominant plants in the sea. Zooplankton are the animal forms of plankton.

Zoning is a planning control tool for regulating the built environment and creating functional real estate markets.

Attributes of the flowers within an individual that may influence gamete transfer among conspecifics.

The mating system provides a description of the distribution of mating unions in a population. The main mating systems in plants are outcrossing (cross-fertilisation), autogamy (self-fertilisation) and apomixis (asexual reproduction without fertilization). Mixed mating systems, where plants use two or three mating systems, are not uncommon.

A group of local plant and pollinator species and the links among them, which establish who interacts with whom (i.e. qualitative network). A network can also include a measure of the strength of each individual interaction link (i.e. quantitative network.

Forests where trees have been deliberately planted (i.e. have not regenerated naturally) and are typically grown for the production of wood or fibre, in some cases they may replace grasslands or other non-forest vegetation types. They are often of exotic tree species.

Within the context of IPBES - the decision-making body comprising all of the members of IPBES.

Animal killing or trapping without the approval of the people who controls or own the land (Survival, 2018).

Poaching is defined as the illegal removal of wild species from a place where such practices are specially reserved or forbidden.

Any single identifiable source of pollution from which pollutants are discharged, such as a pipe, ditch, ship or factory smokestack.

A course or principle of action adopted or proposed by an organization or individual.

The systematic promotion of mutually reinforcing policy actions across government departments and agencies creating synergies towards achieving the agreed objectives.

see decision context.

A framework describing the policy process in terms of four linked phases: agenda setting, policy design, policy implementation, and policy review.