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A function-based typology for Earth's ecosystems.

David A Keith1,2,3, José R Ferrer-Paris4,5, Emily Nicholson5,6

  • 1Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. david.keith@unsw.edu.au.

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A new International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology provides a unified framework for classifying Earth's ecosystems. This classification aids in predicting ecosystem responses to environmental changes and supports global biodiversity conservation efforts.

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Area of Science:

  • Ecology and Conservation Science
  • Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Background:

  • The United Nations is developing a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, emphasizing the need for effective ecosystem conservation and sustainable ecosystem services.
  • Current limitations in globally consistent ecosystem classifications hinder the development of conservation targets and sustainability goals due to varying biota, service provision, and risk exposure.
  • Reliable predictions of ecosystem responses to environmental change and management are crucial for advancing biodiversity conservation and ecosystem service sustainability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To introduce the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology, a novel framework for classifying all Earth's ecosystems.
  • To provide a conceptually robust, scalable, and spatially explicit approach for generalizing and predicting ecosystem functions, biota, risks, and management strategies.
  • To guide the transformation of ecosystem policy and management from global to local scales, supporting conservation and sustainability goals.

Main Methods:

  • Development of a cross-disciplinary, unifying theoretical framework for ecosystem classification.
  • Creation of a scalable and spatially explicit typology applicable across the entire biosphere.
  • Integration of functional responses to environmental change and management into the classification system.

Main Results:

  • The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology offers a comprehensive classification of Earth's ecosystems.
  • The framework enables robust generalizations and predictions regarding ecosystem functions, biota, and risks.
  • It establishes a foundation for standardized ecosystem risk assessments and natural capital accounting.

Conclusions:

  • The IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology is a critical information infrastructure for advancing global biodiversity goals.
  • It supports knowledge transfer for ecosystem-specific management and restoration efforts.
  • The typology will facilitate progress on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the vision of 'living in harmony with nature'.