A function-based typology for Earth’s ecosystems

TLDR

The United Nations is developing a post‑2020 biodiversity framework that requires reliable, globally consistent ecosystem classifications to guide conservation and sustainability goals. This study introduces the IUCN Global Ecosystem Typology, a scalable, spatially explicit framework for classifying Earth’s ecosystems by function, biota, risks, and management. The typology is developed through a cross‑disciplinary collaboration, yielding a conceptually robust, scalable, spatially explicit system that generalizes ecosystem functions, biota, risks, and management. The resulting typology unifies all Earth’s ecosystems into a theoretical framework that facilitates ecosystem‑specific management, standardized risk assessments, natural capital accounting, and progress toward the post‑2020 biodiversity framework.

Abstract

Abstract As the United Nations develops a post-2020 global biodiversity framework for the Convention on Biological Diversity, attention is focusing on how new goals and targets for ecosystem conservation might serve its vision of ‘living in harmony with nature’ 1,2 . Advancing dual imperatives to conserve biodiversity and sustain ecosystem services requires reliable and resilient generalizations and predictions about ecosystem responses to environmental change and management 3 . Ecosystems vary in their biota 4 , service provision 5 and relative exposure to risks 6 , yet there is no globally consistent classification of ecosystems that reflects functional responses to change and management. This hampers progress on developing conservation targets and sustainability goals. Here we present the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Ecosystem Typology, a conceptually robust, scalable, spatially explicit approach for generalizations and predictions about functions, biota, risks and management remedies across the entire biosphere. The outcome of a major cross-disciplinary collaboration, this novel framework places all of Earth’s ecosystems into a unifying theoretical context to guide the transformation of ecosystem policy and management from global to local scales. This new information infrastructure will support knowledge transfer for ecosystem-specific management and restoration, globally standardized ecosystem risk assessments, natural capital accounting and progress on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.