Glossary definitions

Paired catchment studies have been widely used to assess the likely impact of land use change on water yield around the world. Such studies involve the use of two catchments (drainage basins) with similar characteristics in terms of slope, aspect, soils, area, precipitation and vegetation located adjacent to each other. Following a calibration period, where both catchments are monitored, one of the catchments is subjected to treatment and the other remains as a control. This allows the climatic variability to be accounted for in the analysis. The change in water yield can then be attributed to changes in vegetation. The paired catchment studies reported in the literature can be divided into four broad categories: (i) afforestation experiments; (ii) regrowth experiments; (iii) deforestation experiments; and (iv) forest conversion experiments.

Information on environment event and trends (e.g. paleoclimate).

The share of all income received by the 10% people with highest disposable income divided by the share of all income received by the 40% people with the lowest disposable income (OECD, 2018b).

An organism that lives on or within another organism of a different species (the host) from which it obtains nourishment and to which it causes harm.

Agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020.

A variant or subset of governance which puts emphasis on democratic engagement, in particular through deliberative practices.

A key method that many indigenous communities apply in order to collect data, information and monitoring and to use it in science- policy- society interface processes.

Participatory research methods are a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods geared towards planning and conducting the research process with those people whose life-world and meaningful actions are under study (Bergold & Thomas, 2012). Participatory methods acknowledge the possibility, the significance, and the usefulness of involving research partners in the knowledge-production process (Bergold, 2007).

Participatory research methods are a variety of qualitative and quantitative methods geared towards planning and conducting the research process with those people whose life-world and meaningful actions are under study (Bergold & Thomas, 2012). Participatory methods acknowledge the possibility, the significance, and the usefulness of involving research partners in the knowledge- production process.

Specific methods employed to achieve active participation by all members of a group in a decision-making process (Chatty et al., 2003).

Specific methods employed to achieve active participation by all members of a group in a decision-making process.

Approaches characterised by more interactive, and inclusive, involvement of stakeholders in the formulation and evaluation of scenarios. Aimed at improving the transparency and relevance of decision-making, by incorporating demands and information of each stakeholder, and negotiating outcomes between stakeholders.

Approaches characterized by more interactive, and inclusive, involvement of stakeholders in the formulation and evaluation of scenarios. Aimed at improving the transparency and relevance of decision-making, by incorporating demands and information of each stakeholder, and negotiating outcomes between stakeholders.

Approaches characterised by more interactive, and inclusive, involvement of stakeholders in the formulation and evaluation of scenarios. Aimed at improving the transparency and relevance of decision making, by incorporating demands and information of each stakeholder, and negotiating outcomes between stakeholders.

Air pollutants such as ozone, nitrogen oxides and ammonia.

A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets (dust, dirt, soot, or smoke) (US Environmental Protection Agency, 2018b).

A mixture of solid particles (dust, dirt, soot, or smoke) and liquid droplets.

Particulate matter (PM), also known as atmospheric particulate matter, or suspended particulate matter (SPM) are microscopic solid or liquid matter suspended in Earth's atmosphere. Sources of particulate matter can be natural or anthropogenic. They have impacts on climate and precipitation that adversely affect human health.

A mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets (dust, dirt, soot, or smoke).

The carbon content of particulate organic matter (Fiedler et al., 2008).

The large fraction (usually more than 7 micrometers) of soil organic matter (Fiedler et al., 2008).

See restoration.

Extensive livestock production in rangelands.

any action taken (single or via systems approach) towards a particular anthropogenic invasive alien species arrival pathway (e.g., trade) to prevent or address the threats and risks of an invasive alien species arriving and establishing via that pathway either between or within jurisdictions

In the context of the IPBES global assessment, trajectories toward the achievement of goals and targets for biodiversity conservation and management of nature and nature’s contributions to people.

“Pathways” consist of descriptions of different strategies for moving from the current situation towards a desired future vision or set of specified targets. They are descriptions of purposive courses of actions that build on each other, from short-term to long-term actions into broader transformation. They are closely related to normative or policy or target-seeking scenarios.

In the context of the IPBES global assessment, trajectories toward the achievement of goals and targets for biodiversity conservation, the management of nature and nature’s contributions to people, and, more broadly, the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

A rare or threatened species which needs local management and which may be a flagship species and may have cultural importance (Pervanchon, 2004).

Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) are a specific class of approach, used to facilitate voluntary transaction between a provider and a user of a service, conditioned on natural resource management rules for dealing with environmental externalities. PES is created to deal with market failures, environmental externalities, property rights problems and asymmetric information between economic actors.

Voluntary transactions that generate offsite services and are established to enable service users to pay resource providers for the conditional provision of the desired ecosystem service.

A payment mechanism that involves a series of payments to land or other natural resource owners in return for a guaranteed flow of ecosystem services or certain actions likely to enhance their provision over-and-above what would otherwise be provided in the absence of payment.

Payments for ecosystem services (PES) is a term used to describe a process whereas a beneficiary or user of an ecosystem service makes a direct or indirect payment to a provider of that service. PES involve a series of payments to land or other natural resource owners in return for a guaranteed flow of ecosystem services or certain actions likely to enhance their provision over-¬and-above what would otherwise be provided in the absence of payment.

Wetlands which accumulate organic plant matter in situ because waterlogging prevents aerobic decomposition and the much slower rate of the resulting anaerobic decay is exceeded by the rate of accumulation.

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).