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Glossary definitions

The IPBES glossary terms definitions page provides definitions of terms used in IPBES assessments. Some definitions in this online glossary have been edited for consistency. Please refer to the specific assessment glossary for citations/authorities of definitions. 

We invite you to report any errors or omissions to [email protected].

Concept Definition Deliverable(s)
intrinsic value

See values.

Americas assessment
intrinsic value

This concept refers to inherent value, that is the value something has independent of any human experience and evaluation. Such a value is viewed as an inherent property of the entity and not ascribed or generated by external valuing agents.

Africa assessment
intrinsic value

See values.

Europe and Central Asia assessment
introduced pollinator

A pollinator species living outside its native distributional range (see Exotic pollinator).

Pollination assessment
introduction pathway

a suite of processes that result in the introduction of a species from one geographical location to another. It means: 1) geographic routes by which a species is moved outside its natural range (past or present); 2) corridors of introduction (e.g., road, canal, tunnel); and/or 3) human activity that gives rise to an intentional or unintentional introduction. More than one vector (see definition of vector below) within a pathway may be involved in a transfer of species

Invasive alien species assessment
invasion cold spot

areas of low alien species richness relative to other regions with similar biogeographic characteristics (O’Donnell et al., 2012). Biodiversity hot spots of diversi?cation and species richness are defined as geographic regions with high diversi?cation rates or high species richness, respectively, while conversely cold spots are geographic regions with low diversi?cation rates or species richness

Invasive alien species assessment
invasion curve

depiction of the different stages of invasive alien species management from prevention to early detection and eradication, containment and adaptive management (Invasive Species Centre, 2021). The curve shows that eradication of an invasive alien species is less probable and more costly as it spreads over time. Choosing a management action relies on where a species is on the invasion curve.

Invasive alien species assessment
invasion debts

the potential increase in biological invasions at a site over a particular time frame in the absence of any interventions (Rouget et al., 2016). It is composed of the number of new species that will be introduced (introduction debt), the number of species that will become invasive (species-based invasion debt), the increase in area affected by invasions (area-based invasion debt), and the increase in the negative impacts caused by introduced species (impact-based invasion debt)

Invasive alien species assessment
invasion hotspot

areas of high alien species richness relative to other regions with similar biogeographic characteristics (O’Donnell et al., 2012). Biodiversity hot spots of diversi?cation and species richness are defined as geographic regions with high diversi?cation rates or high species richness, respectively, while conversely cold spots are geographic regions with low diversi?cation rates or species richness

Invasive alien species assessment
invasion stages

stages (transport, introduction, establishment, and spread) that a species must pass through on the invasion continuum from native to (invasive) alien species, recognising the need for a species to overcome the barriers (geography, captivity or cultivation, survival, reproduction, dispersal and environmental) that obstruct transition between each stage

Invasive alien species assessment
invasional meltdown

the amplification of impacts of invasive alien species through community-level processes in which there is a cascade of effects, positive feedback loops, arising from the interactions amongst species, in this case alien species, which ultimately affect ecosystem functions

Invasive alien species assessment
invasive alien species

A species introduced outside its natural past or present distribution whose introduction and/or spread threaten biological diversity.

Scenarios and models assessment
invasive alien species

Species whose introduction and/or spread by human action outside their natural distribution threatens biological diversity, food security, and human health and well-being. Alien refers to the species' having been introduced outside its natural distribution (exotic, non-native and non-indigenous are synonyms for alien). Invasive means tending to expand into and modify ecosystems to which it has been introduced. Thus, a species may be alien without being invasive, or, in the case of a species native to a region, it may increase and become invasive, without actually being an alien species.

Americas assessment, Africa assessment, Asia-Pacific assessment, Pollination assessment, Land degradation and restoration assessment, Europe and Central Asia assessment, Sustainable use assessment, Global assessment (1st work programme)
invasive alien species

animals, plants or other organisms introduced directly or indirectly by people into places out of their natural range of distribution, where they have become established and dispersed, and generating an impact on local ecosystems and species (IPBES, 2016); see Chapter 1 for further discussion). Invasive alien species are a subset of established alien species that have negative impacts.

Invasive alien species assessment
invasive pollinator

A pollinator species that, once it has been introduced outside its native distributional range, has a tendency to spread without direct human assistance.

Pollination assessment
invasive alien species

A species that, once it has been introduced outside its native distributional range, has a tendency to spread over space without direct human assistance.

invasive alien species

See Invasive alien species.

Europe and Central Asia assessment, Americas assessment, Asia-Pacific assessment, Global assessment (1st work programme)
ipbes conceptual framework

The Platform's conceptual framework has been designed to build shared understanding across disciplines, knowledge systems and stakeholders of the interplay between biodiversity and ecosystem drivers, and of the role they play in building a good quality of life through nature's contributions to people.

Africa assessment, Americas assessment, Sustainable use assessment
ipbes conceptual framework

A simplified representation of the complex interactions between the natural world and human societies. This framework emerged from an extensive process of consultation and negotiation, leading to formal adoption by the second IPBES Plenary (IPBES/2/4), and therefore represents a key foundation for all IPBES activities. The framework recognizes different knowledge systems, including indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) systems, which can be complementary to those based on science.

Scenarios and models assessment, Asia-Pacific assessment
ipbes conceptual framework

The IPBES conceptual framework has been designed to build shared understanding across disciplines, knowledge systems and stakeholders of the interplay between biodiversity and ecosystem drivers, and of the role they play in building a good quality of life.

Europe and Central Asia assessment, Land degradation and restoration assessment
ipbes conceptual framework

The Platform’s conceptual framework has been designed to build shared understanding across disciplines, knowledge systems and stakeholders of the interplay between biodiversity and ecosystem drivers, and of the role they play in building a good quality of life through nature’s contributions to people.

Global assessment (1st work programme)
integrated pest management

Is also known as Integrated Pest Control (IPC). It is a broadly-based approach that integrates various practices for economic control of pests (q.v.). IPM aims to suppress pest populations below the economic injury level (i.e. to below the level that the.

Pollination assessment
IUCN habitats classification scheme

Classification Schemes (formerly referred to as Authority Files) are a set of standard terms developed for documenting taxa on the IUCN Red List in order to ensure global uniformity when describing the habitat in which a taxon occurs, the threats to a taxon, what conservation actions are in place or are needed, and whether or not the taxon is utilized.

IUCN protected area category

IUCN protected area management categories classify protected areas according to their management objectives.

Asia-Pacific assessment, Global assessment (1st work programme), Europe and Central Asia assessment, Americas assessment
IUCN red list

The IUCN Red List is an indicator of the health of biodiversity. It provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on plants, fungi and animals that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those plants and animals that are facing a higher risk of global extinction.

Global assessment (1st work programme), Sustainable use assessment
IUCN red list

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on plants, fungi and animals that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

Asia-Pacific assessment
IUCN red list

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on taxa that have been globally evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. This system is designed to determine the relative risk of extinction, and the main purpose of the IUCN Red List is to catalogue and highlight those taxa that are facing a higher risk of global extinction (i.e. as Critically Endangered, Endangered and Vulnerable). The IUCN Red List also includes information on taxa that are categorized as Extinct or Extinct in the Wild; on taxa that cannot be evaluated because of insufficient information (i.e. are Data Deficient); and on taxa that are either close to meeting the threatened thresholds or that would be threatened were it not for an ongoing taxon- specific conservation programme (i.e. are Near Threatened).

Americas assessment
macroecology

A subfield of ecology that deals with the study of relationships between organisms and their environment at large spatial scales, and involves characterizing and explaining statistical patterns of abundance, distribution and diversity.

Global assessment (1st work programme)
mainstreaming biodiversity

Mainstreaming means integrating actions related to conservation of biodiversity into strategies relating to production sectors.

Asia-Pacific assessment
mainstreaming biodiversity

Mainstreaming, in the context of biodiversity, means integrating actions or policies related to biodiversity into broader development processes or policies such as those aimed at poverty reduction, or tackling climate change.

Americas assessment, Africa assessment, Europe and Central Asia assessment
maladaptation

A trait that is, or has become, more harmful than helpful, in contrast with an adaptation, which is more helpful than harmful (Barnett & O’Neill, 2010).

Global assessment (1st work programme)
malnutrition

Malnutrition refers to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions. One is ‘undernutrition’—which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack of important vitamins and minerals). The other is overweight, obesity and diet-related noncommunicable diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer).

Global assessment (1st work programme), Sustainable use assessment
managed pollinator

A kind of pollinator that is maintained by human beings through husbandry (e.g. some honey bees, some leafcutting and orchard bees, some bumble bees). The terms can be broadened to include wild pollinators (q.v.) that flourish by human encouragement.

Pollination assessment
management

for the purpose of the assessment, any action taken to address the threats, risks, distribution, abundance and impacts of an invasive alien species within a defined geographic area (Hulme, 2006; Pyšek et al., 2020). Management includes prevention, preparedness, eradication, containment, and control

Invasive alien species assessment
management of wild species

The management of wild species is the management process influencing interactions among and between wild species, its habitats and humans to achieve predefined impacts valued by stakeholders. It attempts to balance the needs of wild species and the preservation of the ecosystems they inhabit with the needs of humans, using the best available sources of knowledge.

Sustainable use assessment
mangrove

Group of trees and shrubs that live in the coastal intertidal zone. Mangrove forests only grow at tropical and subtropical latitudes near the equator because they cannot withstand freezing temperatures.

Europe and Central Asia assessment, Americas assessment, Land degradation and restoration assessment, Global assessment (1st work programme), Sustainable use assessment, Asia-Pacific assessment
marginal lands

Land having limitations which in aggregate are severe for sustained application of a given use. On these lands, options are limited for diversification without the use of inputs; inappropriate management of lands may cause irreversible degradation.

Sustainable use assessment
marginal lands

Land having limitations which in aggregate are severe for sustained application of a given use. On these lands, options are limited for diversification without the use of inputs; inappropriate management of lands may cause irreversible degradation (CGIAR,.

marginal lands

Lands less suited for crop or livestock production.

Land degradation and restoration assessment
marginalization

Marginalization refers to the set of processes through which some individuals and groups face systematic disadvantages in their interactions with dominant social, political and economic institutions. The disadvantages arise from class status, social group identity (kinship, ethnicity, caste and race), political affiliation, gender, age and disability.

Global assessment (1st work programme)
marginalization

Marginalisation is a complex and multidimensional concept, which simply cannot be seen as a state of being ( a condition of low income or food insecurity) but needs to be considered a process over time with several inter-related elements interacting with social and economic conditions, political standing, and environmental health. A full understanding of the term marginalisation needs to be based on the view that the best judge of poverty and marginalisation are the people experiencing it.

Sustainable use assessment
marginalized community

Marginalized communities, peoples or populations are groups and communities that experience discrimination and exclusion (social, political and economic) because of unequal power relationships across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions (National Collaborating Centre for Determinants of Health.

Sustainable use assessment
mariculture

A branch of aquaculture involving the culture of organisms in a medium or environment which may be completely marine (sea), or sea water mixed to various degrees with fresh water, including brackishwater areas (SIVALINGAM, 1981).

Sustainable use assessment, Global assessment (1st work programme)
market failures

Refers to situations whereby the market fails to give efficient allocation of resources, due to non-fulfilment of free and competitive market structure.

Africa assessment
market forces

Refer to economic factors affecting the price of, demand for, and availability of a commodity.

Africa assessment
mass balance (analysis)

Comparison between input and output mass of materials to solve for losses such as oxidation.

Land degradation and restoration assessment
maximum sustainable yield

The maximum sustainable yield (MSY) for a given fish stock means the highest possible annual catch that can be sustained over time, by keeping the stock at the level producing maximum growth. The MSY refers to a hypothetical equilibrium state between the exploited population and the fishing activity.

Americas assessment
mean species abundance (species abundance)

An indicator of naturalness or biodiversity intactness. It is defined as the mean abundance of original species relative to their abundance in undisturbed ecosystems. An MSA (Mean Species Abundance) of 0% means a completely destructed ecosystem, with no original species remaining.

Asia-Pacific assessment
mechanistic model

see process-based model.

Scenarios and models assessment
mechanistic modelling

A model with hypothesized relationship between the variables in the dataset where the nature of the relationship is specified in terms of the biological processes that are thought to have given rise to the data.

Global assessment (1st work programme)