Biodiversity Footprinting Glossary

A structured way of translating human activities into impacts on ecosystems (e.g. using spend data or physical data, measured or modelled.). 3 types of approach are presented in this document : Input-Ouput models (IO) ; Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Nature Capital Accounting (NCA). Each approach presents different methods. 

Variability among living organisms from all sources (terrestrial, marine and freshwater) and the ecological complexes of which they are part. This includes diversity within species (genetic diversity), between species, and of ecosystems (the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2011).

The impact of a commodity, company, person or community on global biodiversity, measured in terms of biodiversity change as a result of production and consumption of particular goods and services. (the institute for European Environmental Policy 2021). 
 

Biodiversity footprint can be: 

Measured - Assesses changes in state of nature and ecosystem services by using location-specific observation, such as remote sensing, field surveys, and ecological monitoring, by tracking ecological condition from a baseline, relative to a reference state. 
 
Modelled – Assesses change in state of nature and ecosystem services by linking organizational activities and pressures to biodiversity impacts through pressure-impact relationships, quantifying the expected effect of pressures on biodiversity.

The process of assessing and quantifying the biodiversity impacts of an organisation, product, service or value chain, typically expressed as changes in the state of nature. 
 
Spend data - represents the monetary transactions between different industries, households, and governments. can be used as a proxy when physical data is unavailable, to estimate a business’s biodiversity impact and is expressed in monetary units. 
 

Placing the value of natural ecosystems directly into business strategies.

The reliance of a business on ecosystem services for its operations and value chain
(TNFD, 2023).

A dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their non-living environment interacting as a functional unit (the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2011).

Contributions of ecosystems to human well-being, through the benefits that humans derive from ecosystems and use in economic and other human activity (like food, fuel and, medicines, clean water, flood control and climate regulation) (the Convention on Biological Diversity, 2011).

The effects that a company has on nature, whether positive or negative, direct or indirect, intended or unintended (TNFD, 2023). Represents the change in ecosystem services due to pressures. Impacts can be potential (modelled, as in a modelled footprint) or actual (measured, as in a measured footprint). 

Also "metric"; A quantifiable representation of a measurement focus (ISO, 2006), consisting of single measure or a group of measures contributing to a composite metric of change in state of nature or ecosystem services. 

The logical, cause-and-effect sequence that connects an organization’s activities to ultimate changes in ecosystem services.

Different ways to assess impacts on ecosystems within an approach (e.g. under Life Cycle Assessment approach there is ReCiPe and LC-Impact etc).

Activities that create positive outcomes for both business and nature, including resource efficiency, new markets, and enhanced reputation (TNFD, 2023).

Operational data expressed in natural units that describe an organisation’s activities, resource use, outputs or environmental pressure. It can be measured (direct data collected from the field) or modelled (through estimations). 

A human-induced driver of change that alters the state of nature by affecting ecosystems, species, or ecological processes. Pressures may include land-use change, resource extraction, pollution, climate change, and invasive species (IPBES).

Nature-related risks are potential threats posed to an organization linked to its dependencies 
on nature and impacts on nature. (TNFD, 2023) Physical risks are generally linked to dependencies (as if state of nature and ecosystem services degrade, it creates physical risks) while transition risks are often associated with its impacts on nature (as they are often triggered by the consequences of impacts on nature. 

The condition of ecosystems and species and their ecological functions (extent, structure and health), at a given point in time (IPBES).