Biodiversity: CBD defines biodiversity as “the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia, terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.”
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD): In order to promote sustainable development, the convention was signed by government leaders in 1992. It has three main aims: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
Ecosystem: CBD defines an ecosystem as “a dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.”
Ecosystem approach: The ecosystem approach is one of the
guiding principles of the CBD. It is a strategy that promotes conservation and sustainable management of natural resources that considers ecosystems as whole systems. The application of the ecosystem approach supports all three main objectives of the member states of the CBD Convention: conservation of biological diversity, sustainable use, equity, and equality in the use of genetic resources. More details on:
biodice.is/the-ecosystem-approach EU Biodiversity strategy for 2030: The EU’s biodiversity strategy for 2030 is a comprehensive, ambitious, and long-term plan to protect nature and reverse the degradation of ecosystems. The strategy aims to put Europe's biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030 and contains specific actions and commitments (European Commission 2020).
International Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES): An independent organization that provides policymakers with scientific assessments on the state of biodiversity and ecosystems. It aims to improve the understanding of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation and offers solutions to help protect and sustainably manage the natural world. IPBES bridges the gap between science and policy, promoting informed decision-making for environmental conservation.
Invasive alien species (IAS): Animals, plants, pathogens, and other organisms that are non-native to an ecosystem, spread to new areas with human intervention, which may cause environmental harm or negatively affect human health. IAS impact native biodiversity via the decline or elimination of native species through predation, competition, or the transmission of pathogens, or harming the ecosystem or ecosystem functions. Invasive alien species are one of the direct drivers of biodiversity loss (IPBES 2019).
Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2022 (GBF): The agreement was adopted at the 15th Conference of Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and signed by 196 countries. This framework contains visionary global targets to be achieved by 2030 and 2050 to safeguard biodiversity. The GBF replaces the CBD’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2020 and its Aichi targets (CBD Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011–2022) which nations largely failed to meet.
Monitoring Framework for the GBF: Designed to track global progress on biodiversity conservation by establishing a comprehensive set of indicators and targets, ensuring that countries can effectively measure and report on their efforts to halt biodiversity loss and promote sustainable ecosystems.
National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs): The National Action Plan details how the country intends to fulfil the CBD objectives within the specific national context while integrating conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into all relevant sectors.
Nordic Biodiversity Framework: The Nordic Biodiversity Framework (NBF) is a collaborative environmental policy project involving Iceland, Denmark, and Finland. It was established in 2024 and aims to enhance synergy in achieving the GBF targets across Nordic countries.