A function-based typology for Earth's ecosystems

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'.