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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
sacred grove

A particular type of sacred natural sites represented by patches of forest revered as sacred (Bhagwat & Rutte, 2006). Sacred groves may be revered e.g. as burial grounds (Mgumia & Oba, 2003) or sites of ancestral or deity worship (Ramakrishnan et al., 1998). There are locally-established rules that regulate how sacred groves can be used (Hughes & Chandran, 1998). Observation of those rules often contributes to the biodiversity conservation on those sites (Bhagwat & Rutte, 2006).

Global assessment (1st work programme)
sacred grove

A particular type of sacred natural sites represented by patches of forest revered as sacred (Bhagwat & Rutte, 2006). Sacred groves may be revered as burial grounds (Mgumia & Oba, 2003) or sites of ancestral or deity worship (Ramakrishnan et al., 1998). There are locally-established rules that regulate how sacred groves can be used (Hughes & Chandran, 1998). Observation of those rules often contributes to the biodiversity conservation on those sites.

Sustainable use assessment
sacred natural sites

Areas of land or water that have special spiritual significance to peoples and communities. They consist of natural features, ranging from entire ecosystems, such as mountains, forests or islands, to single natural features such as a tree, spring or boulder, and are very important for the conservation of nature and culture. Sacred natural sites have been managed based on indigenous and local knowledge systems, developed over long periods of time, and are source of cultural identity.

Sustainable use assessment
sacred natural sites

Areas of land or water that have special spiritual significance to peoples and communities (Verschuuren et al., 2010). They consist of natural features, ranging from entire ecosystems, such as mountains, forests or islands, to single natural features such as a tree, spring or boulder, and are very important for the conservation of nature and culture. Sacred natural sites have been managed based on indigenous and local knowledge systems, developed over long periods of time, and are source of cultural identity.

Global assessment (1st work programme)
sacrilegious

Involving or committing sacrilege.

Asia-Pacific assessment
safe trade

export of products that are free from invasive alien species

Invasive alien species assessment
salinization

The process of increasing the salt content in soil is known as salinization. Salination can be caused by natural processes such as mineral weathering or by the gradual withdrawal of an ocean. It can also come about through artificial processes such as irrigation.

Asia-Pacific assessment, Global assessment (1st work programme)
salinization

The process of increasing the salt content in soil is known as salinization. Salinization can be caused by natural processes such as mineral weathering or by the gradual withdrawal of an ocean. It can also come about through artificial processes such as irrigation.

Land degradation and restoration assessment, Americas assessment, Europe and Central Asia assessment
satoyama initiative

A global initiative with the purpose of realizing societies in harmony with nature through the conservation and advancement of socio-ecological production landscapes and seascapes (SEPLS)” around the world.

Asia-Pacific assessment
satoyama-satoumi

Satoyama is the Japanese term for a socio-ecological production landscape (SEPL) represented by a mosaic of different ecosystem types: secondary forests, timber plantations, farmlands, irrigation ponds, and grasslands—along with human settlements. Satoyama is managed through the interaction between ecosystems and humans to create ecosystem services for human well-being. Satoumi refers to Japan's coastal areas where human interaction over time has resulted in a higher degree of productivity and biodiversity. Foundational to both concepts is the positing of a relationship of interaction between humans and their environment, coupled with the notion that properly maintained the relationship is mutually beneficial.

Asia-Pacific assessment
savanna

Ecosystem characterised by a continuous layer of herbaceous plants, mostly grasses, and a discontinuous upper layer of trees that may vary in density.

Africa assessment, Asia-Pacific assessment
savanna

Ecosystem characterized by a continuous layer of herbaceous plants, mostly grasses, and a discontinuous upper layer of trees that may vary in density.

Americas assessment, Land degradation and restoration assessment, Europe and Central Asia assessment
sawnwood

Sawnwood is defined as planks, sleepers (cross-ties), beams, joists, boards, rafters, 1679 scantlings, laths, boxboards and lumber that exceed 5 mm in thickness.

Sustainable use assessment
scale paradox

Process in which land use outcomes vary (often counterintuitively) according to the geographic location and spatial scale under consideration.

Land degradation and restoration assessment
scale

The spatial, temporal, quantitative and analytical dimensions used to measure and study any phenomenon. The temporal scale is comprised of two properties: (i) temporal extent - the total length of the time period of interest for a particular study (e.g. 10 years, 50 years, or 100 years); and 2) temporal grain (or resolution) - the temporal frequency with which data are observed or projected within this total period (e.g. at 1-year, 5-year or 10- year intervals). The spatial scale is comprised of two properties: 1) spatial extent - the size of the total area of interest for a particular study (e.g. a watershed, a country, the entire planet); and (ii) spatial grain (or resolution) - the size of the spatial units within this total area for which data are observed or predicted (e.g. fine-grained or coarse-grained grid cells).

Land degradation and restoration assessment
scale

The spatial, temporal, quantitative and analytical dimensions used to measure and study any phenomenon.The temporal scale is comprised of two properties:temporal extent - the total length of the time period of interest for a particular study (e.g. 10 years, 50 years, or 100 years);temporal grain (or resolution) - the temporal frequency with which data are observed or projected within this total period (e.g. at 1-year, 5-year or 10-year intervals).The spatial scale is comprised of two properties:spatial extent - the size of the total area of interest for a particular study (e.g. a watershed, a country, the entire planet);spatial grain (or resolution) - the size of the spatial units within this total area for which data are observed or predicted (e.g. fine-grained or coarse-grained grid cells).

scale

see spatial scale and temporal scale.

Scenarios and models assessment
scale

The spatial, temporal, quantitative and analytical dimensions used to measure and study any phenomenon. The temporal scale is comprised of two properties: 1) temporal extent - the total length of the time period of interest for a particular study (e.g. 10 years, 50 years, or 100 years); and 2) temporal grain (or resolution) - the temporal frequency with which data are observed or projected within this total period (e.g. at 1-year, 5-year or 10-year intervals). The spatial scale is comprised of two properties: 1) spatial extent - the size of the total area of interest for a particular study (e.g. a watershed, a country, the entire planet); and 2) spatial grain (or resolution) - the size of the spatial units within this total area for which data are observed or predicted (e.g. fine-grained or coarse-grained grid cells).

Europe and Central Asia assessment, Asia-Pacific assessment, Americas assessment
scaling

Bringing model outputs to the appropriate scale, which can be done in two different directions: upscaling information from local, fine-grained resolution to global, coarse-grained resolution; or vice versa downscaling coarse-grained information to a finer resolution.

Scenarios and models assessment
scenario

Representations of possible futures for one or more components of a system, particularly for drivers of change in nature and nature's benefits, including alternative policy or management options. Exploratory scenarios (also known as explorative scenarios or descriptive scenarios) are scenarios that examine a range of plausible futures, based on potential trajectories of drivers - either indirect (e.g. socio-political, economic and technological factors) or direct (e.g. habitat conversion, climate change). Target-seeking scenarios (also known as goal-seeking scenarios or normative scenarios): scenarios that start with the definition of a clear objective, or a set of objectives, specified either in terms of achievable targets, or as an objective function to be optimized, and then identify different pathways to achieving this outcome (e.g. through backcasting). Intervention scenarios are scenarios that evaluate alternative policy or management options - either through target seeking (also known as goal seeking or normative scenario analysis) or through policy screening (also known as ex-ante assessment). Policy-evaluation scenarios are scenarios, including counterfactual scenarios, used in ex-post assessments of the gap between policy objectives and actual policy results, as part of the policy-review phase of the policy cycle. Policy-screening scenarios are scenarios used in ex-ante assessments, to forecast the effects of alternative policy or management options (interventions) on environmental outcomes.|scale|.

Africa assessment, Land degradation and restoration assessment, Americas assessment, Asia-Pacific assessment
scenario analysis

Quantitative or qualitative exploration of future pathways through use of scenarios.

Asia-Pacific assessment
scenarios

Representations of possible futures for one or more components of a system, particularly, in this assessment, for drivers of change in nature and nature’s benefits, including alternative policy or management options. Exploratory scenarios (also known as “explorative scenarios” or “descriptive scenarios”) are scenarios that examine a range of plausible futures, based on potential trajectories of drivers - either indirect (socio-political, economic and technological factors) or direct (e.g. habitat conversion, climate change). Target-seeking scenarios (also known as “goal-seeking scenarios” or “normative scenarios”) are scenarios that start with the definition of a clear objective, or a set of objectives, specified either in terms of achievable targets, or as an objective function to be optimized, and then identify different pathways to achieving this outcome (e.g. through backcasting). Intervention scenarios are scenarios that evaluate alternative policy or management options - either through target seeking (also known as “goal seeking” or “normative scenario analysis”) or through policy screening (also known as “ex-ante assessment”). Policy-evaluation scenarios are scenarios, including counterfactual scenarios, used in ex-post assessments of the gap between policy objectives and actual policy results, as part of the policy-review phase of the policy cycle. Policy-screening scenarios are scenarios used in ex-ante assessments, to forecast the effects of alternative policy or management options (interventions) on environmental outcomes.

Sustainable use assessment
scenarios

Representations of possible futures for one or more components of a system, particularly for drivers of change in nature and nature's contributions, including alternative policy or management options.

Europe and Central Asia assessment