UNEP Biodiversity A-Z (glossary)

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OCM Datasheet

Intended Audience

Anyone working with biodiversity for information, education, planning or management purposes.

UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP WCMC)

2018

“The Biodiversity A-Z provides clear, concise and relevant information about various topics relating to biodiversity written and reviewed by experts. It is designed to be a useful reference to all sectors including business, government and environmental agencies. The content of the Biodiversity A-Z is structured around themes, each theme is divided into several categories, and in some cases, further divided into sub-categories. Searches throughout the website can be filtered by themes, categories or sub-categories.

The information contained in the Biodiversity A-Z is drawn from various sources including the official documents of international conventions, reports from a number of relevant international organisations, and academic publications.” (About)

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SDGs LINKAGES

The resource can be used for activities that support SDG 15.9 (incorporate biodiversity values into planning). The resource can support 4.7, 12.8 and 4.7 and 13.3 (information and education for sustainable development and climate action), and 4.4 (skills for work), all of which can support 11.4 (protect natural heritage), 6.6 (protect water ecosystems), 14.2 (protect and restore coastal and marine ecosystems), 14.5 (conserve coastal and marine areas), 15.1 (conserve and restore nature) and 15.5 (protect biodiversity and natural habitats).

Click on the SDG Target to discover Our Collections Matter indicators

SDG 4.4: Increase the Number of People with Relevant Skills for Financial Success
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of young people and adults in skills-development activities and programmes drawing on collections, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.
Increase in number of young people and adults in such programmes.
Number and proportion of staff who have received training in the last year, to better support their contribution to the SDGs.
Programs and processes in place to ensure the availability of a skilled workforce.
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SDG 4.7: Education for Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Numbers of people in each type of programme drawing on collections from different demographic groups.
Increases in numbers of people in each type of programme from different demographic groups.
Proportion of people involved in such programmes in relation to overall audience size.
Evidence that learners have acquired knowledge and skills to promote sustainable development.
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SDG 6.6: Protect and Restore Water-Related Ecosystems
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes in a good ecological condition.
Information on, programmes relating to, and partnerships relating to water-related ecosystems drawing on collections and collections-based institutions in place, to support protection of these as effective nature-based solutions and ecosystem services.
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SDG 11.4: Protect the Worlds Cultural and Natural Heritage
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Total expenditure (public and private) per capita spent on the preservation, protection and conservation of all cultural and natural heritage, by type of heritage.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the safe use of collections for a variety of purposes, protecting and safeguarding both collections and those who use them.
Plans, policies and procedures in place for the identification, safeguarding and protection of cultural and natural heritage at risk.
Collecting programmes in place to protect, safeguard and make use of cultural and natural heritage, addressing the needs of communities and stakeholders, and ensuring that collections can be an effective resource for sustainable development.
Number and diversity of educational, awareness-raising, research programmes, and partnerships that aim to strengthen protection of cultural and natural heritage.
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SDG 12.8: Promote Universal Understanding of Sustainable Lifestyles
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment.
Extent to which global citizenship education and education for sustainable development (including climate change education) are mainstreamed in formal, informal and non-formal education programmes and activities drawing on and related to collections.
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SDG 13.3: Build Knowledge and Capacity to Meet Climate Change
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Plans in place to enhance positive contributions to addressing climate change through use of collections. Plans in place to ensure collections, collections institutions and broader society can adapt effectively to climate change.
Plans in place for effective education and awareness raising on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning.
Plans in place to reduce negative contributions of collections-related functions, e.g. measuring greenhouse emissions with plans and targets in place to reduce them.
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SDG 14.2: Protect and Restore Ecosystems
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of marine and coastal areas in a good ecological condition.
Numbers of educational and awareness-raising programmes, research activities, and partnerships drawing on collections aiming to support protection of marine and coastal areas.
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SDG 14.5: Conserve Coastal and Marine Areas
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number of collections-based activities that support designation, management and science for the protection of marine and coastal protection areas.
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SDG 15.1: Conserve and Restore Terrestrial and Freshwater Ecosystems
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion of terrestrial and inland freshwater systems in a good ecological condition.
Information on, educational programmes, collections development, research and partnerships relating to terrestrial and freshwater ecosystems drawing on collections in place.
Policies relating to collections and their use aligned with international agreements for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.
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SDG 15.5: Protect Biodiversity and Natural Habitats
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Number and proportion of habitats, notably endangered habitats, and species with favourable conservation status, with special reference to locally, nationally and globally endangered species.
Information on, programmes relating to, collections development, and partnerships relating to habitats and species drawing on collections in place, to support their protection and continued existence.
Measures taken to enhance biodiversity value of green space associated with collections institutions.
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SDG 15.9: Integrate Ecosystem and Biodiversity in Governmental Planning
Our Collections Matter indicators:
Proportion and number of relevant plans, processes and strategies that incorporate ecosystem and biodiversity values, and their relationships with effective collections.
Plans in place to ensure that development of collections facilities contributes to effective conservation and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.
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