Glossary definitions

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.

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

Set of means or mechanisms to achieve a policy goal.

Policy instruments are understood as the different interventions (formal rules, laws, social norms and processes etc.) made by decision-makers (governments and public authorities, intergovernmental organizations, companies etc.) to ensure that (public) policy objectives are supported and achieved by influencing the behaviour of other stakeholders. The IPBES Catalogue differentiates among four different types of policy instruments: i) economic and financial instruments (financial incentives handling out or taking away economic resources), ii) legal and regulatory instruments (formal rules, laws and regulations), iii) rights-based instruments and customary norms (incl. human and collective rights as well as customary norms and institutions of indigenous people), and iv) social and cultural instruments (information-based instruments and voluntary or collective actions with an emphasis on the intertwined relationships between ecosystems and sociocultural dynamics).

Structured activities by which decision-making institutions attempt to realize or achieve a decision to support, effect or prevent social change expressed by a policy addressing an identified challenge or opportunity.

A combination of policy instruments which has evolved to influence the quantity and quality of biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service provision in public and private sectors.

Policy options are defined as potential policies in terms of their ability to achieve the stated policy goals. Chapter 6 present the range of policy options available to support the sustainable use of wild species, at a range of spatial scales (local, national, international), and across five key practices (fishing, gathering, terrestrial animal harvesting, logging, and non-extractive practices). Four groups of policy instruments are explored: i) legal and regulatory, ii) economic and financial, iii) social and information based, and iv) rights-based and customary instruments.

constructs that depict the mix of institutional mechanisms that make up the governing arrangements addressing a particular problem (Herrick, 2019), noting that for the purpose of this assessment the term “regime” is used for a governance system, affecting more than one country, for a specific issue area, such as invasive alien species

see intervention scenarios.

Approaches and techniques based on science and other knowledge systems that can inform, assist and enhance relevant decisions, policy making and implementation at local, national, regional and global levels to protect nature, thereby promoting Nature’s contributions to people and a good quality of life.

Approaches and techniques based on science and other knowledge systems that can inform, assist and enhance relevant decisions, policy making and implementation at local, national, regional and global levels to protect nature, thereby promoting nature's benefits to people and a good quality of life.

Approaches and techniques based on science and other knowledge systems that can inform, assist and enhance relevant decisions, policy making and implementation at local, national, regional and global levels to protect nature, thereby promoting nature's contributions to people and a good quality of life.

Approaches and techniques based on science and other knowledge systems that can inform, assist and enhance relevant decisions, policymaking and implementation at local, national, regional and global levels to protect nature, thereby promoting nature's benefits to people and a good quality of life.

A definite course or method of action selected from among alternatives and in light of given conditions to guide and determine present and future decisions.

Policies are often cyclical in that emerging problems are addressed with the formulation of policies, followed by their implementation and subsequent evaluation. These stages in the policy cycle can be formalized with assigned roles and processes, and consist of many other sub-stages. For example, the policy formulation stage can include problem definition, identification of alternatives, consultations and public hearings, and finally, a decision on the chosen policy. Implementation can include allocating budgetary, assigning implementation roles to different actors, setting specific targets, and possibly developing guidelines. The evaluation and redefinition of the problem can be conducted with the help of formal monitoring systems as a periodic exercise, or it can be an ad-hoc process or a mere societal discussion of the impacts and consequences of existing policies.

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.

Scenarios used in ex-ante assessments, to forecast the effects of alternative policy or management options (interventions) on environmental outcomes.

Approaches and techniques based on science and other knowledge systems, including indigenous and local knowledge, that can inform, assist and enhance relevant decisions, policy making and implementation at local, national, regional and global levels to protect nature, thereby promoting nature’s contributions to people and a good quality of life.