UNCCD Terminology

Encompasses administrative, legal, technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects of the conservation and use of forests.

The stock of natural resources that provides flows of valuable goods and services.

The net amount of carbon assimilated after photosynthesis and autotrophic respiration over a given period of time (Clark et al. 2001). NPP is measured in mass of carbon per area per unit of time (for example kg C/ha/year or g C/m2/day). Remote sensing is the most effective way to estimate NPP in fine detail at national scales, but it is not directly measured by EO sensors. NPP is estimated from known correlations between the fraction of absorbed photosynthetically active radiation (fAPAR) and plant growth vigour and biomass within specific land cover types and locations.

The condition wherein losses are no greater than gains. In the context of LDN, this refers to the condition where land-based natural capital is maintained or enhanced between the time the LDN framework is put in place (t0) and a future date when progress is monitored (t1)

Many relevant NGOs attend inter-governmental meetings as observers in order to interact with delegates and the press and provide information. Within the UNCCD process, they dispose of a full slot in the plenary of the COP of at least two half-day sessions. NGOs must be non-profit and can include environmental groups, research institutions and business groups.

They are issued informally to facilitate negotiations. They do not have an official document symbol although they may have an identifying number or the name of the authors.

The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) is an indicator of the greenness of the biomes. Even though it is not a physical property of the vegetation cover, its very simple formulation NDVI = (REF_nir – REF_red)/(REF_nir + REF_red) where REF_nir and REF_red are the spectral reflectances measured in the near infrared and red wavebands respectively, makes it widely used for ecosystems monitoring.

The Organization of African Unity was established in 1963 to promote self-government, respect for territorial boundaries, and social progress throughout the African Continent. Membership is open to all independent African countries.

A state (or regional economic integration organisation) that has not yet become a Party to the Convention. United Nations agencies and non-governmental and community-based organisations may also participate as observers, subject to the Rule of Procedure of the Conference of the Parties.

The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development was established in 1961, taking over from the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC). It counts 30 member states, including Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, and the US.

Grants or loans to developing countries) which are: (a) undertaken by the official sector; (b) with promotion of economic development and welfare as the main objective; (c) at concessional financial terms (if a loan, having a grant element of at least 25 per cent). In addition to financial flows, technical cooperation is included in aid. Grants, loans and credits for military purposes are excluded. Transfer payments to private individuals (e.g. pensions, reparations or insurance payouts) are in general not counted.

A conservative approach to combining different indicators/metrics to assess status, which follows the precautionary principle (adapted from European Communities, 2013). The one-out, all-out approach is applied to LDN such that where any of the indicators shows significant negative change, it is considered a loss (and conversely, if at least one indicator shows a positive trend and none shows a negative trend it is considered a gain).

For the purpose of UNCCD reporting, this land cover class includes any geographic area dominated by natural abiotic surfaces (bare soil, sand, rocks, etc.) that do not have an artificial cover as a result of human activities and where the natural vegetation is absent or almost absent (covers less than 2-4%). Included are bare rock areas, sands and deserts. The class also includes areas regularly flooded by inland water (lake shores, river banks, salt flats etc.). It excludes coastal areas affected by the tidal movement of salt water. It includes beaches, dunes, sands and deserts, and bare rock areas. This class includes any geographic area covered by perennial snow or glaciers persistently for 10 months or more.

A collaborative relationship between entities to work toward shared objectives through a mutually agreed division of labour. At the country level, this means engaging under government leadership with national stakeholders and external partners (including international development agencies) in developing, implementing, and monitoring a country’s own development strategy.

A state or regional economic integration organization (such as the EC) that agrees to be bound by the Convention and for which the CCD has entered into force.

The use of domestic animals as a primary means for obtaining resources from habitats (MEA 2005). The grazing of animals on natural or semi-natural grassland, grassland with trees, and/ or open woodlands. Animal owners may have a permanent residence while livestock is moved to distant grazing areas, according to the availability of resources.