agriculture - Reverse, European Project to Preserve Biodiversity

Connectivity Structural and functional connectivity is equal to habitat continuity and is measured
by analysing landscape structure, independent of any attributes of organisms.
This definition is often used in the context of metapopulation ecology. Functional
connectivity is the response of the organism to the landscape elements other than
its habitats (ie the non-habitat matrix). This definition is often used in the context
of landscape ecology.
Conservation System of genetic resources maintained.
Conservation status The sum of the influences acting on a natural habitat and its typical species that
may affect its long-term natural distribution, structure and functions as well as
the long-term survival of its typical species or the sum of the influences acting on
the species concerned that may affect the long-term distribution and abundance
of its populations.
Corridor (ecological) A strip of a particular type of land that differs from the adjacent land on both
sides. Such corridors may have important ecological functions, including conduit,
barrier and habitat.
Crop Cultivated plant or the yield of cultivated plant for a given season or harvest.
Cultivar Cultivated variety (from cultivated + variety) (abbr: cv.). A category of plants that
are, firstly, below the level of a sub-species taxonomically, and, secondly, found
only in cultivation. It is an international term denoting certain cultivated plants
that are clearly distinguishable from others by stated characteristics and that
retain their distinguishing characters when reproduced under specific conditions.
Domesticated species Species in which the evolutionary process has been influenced by humans to meet
their needs. Sin. Cultivated species.
Ecolabel An ecolabel is a voluntary environmental performance certificate that is awarded
to products and services. These products and services have to meet specific,
identified criteria depending on the product groups, which reduce overall
environmental impact.
Ecological coherence of Natura
2000
Sufficient representation of habitats / species to ensure favourable conservation
status of habitats and species across their whole natural range. ‘Sufficient
representation’ is a function of patch quality, total patch area, patch configuration
and landscape permeability.
Ecology A branch of science concerned with the interrelationship of organisms and their
environment; the study of ecosystems.
Ecosystem goods and services The ecological, social and economic benefits provided by ecosystems and
biodiversity that contribute to human well-being.
Ecosystems Dynamic complex of plant, animal and micro-organism communities and their
non-living environment interacting as a functional unit.
Ecosystems services The benefits people obtain from ecosystems. These include provisioning services
such as food and water; regulating services such as flood and disease control;
cultural services such as spiritual and recreational benefits; and supporting
services such as nutrient cycling that maintain the conditions for life on Earth. The
concept “ecosystem goods and services” is synonymous with ecosystem services.
Ecotone Zone / transition areas between two ecosystems where these two systems overlap.
Ecotones support species from both of the over lapping ecosystems and also
species found only in this zone. Consequently, the species richness in ecotones
might be higher than in surrounding areas. In principle, fragmentation causes
an increase in habitat edges, therefore increasing the proportion of ecotones
within a landscape. In this context, it has also been considered that habitat edges
have a negative influence on interior conditions of habitat (e.g. through increased
predation and invasion), i.e. the edge effect.
Ecotourism Travel undertaken to witness sites or regions of unique natural or ecologic quality,
or the provision of services to facilitate such travel that have the least impact on
biological diversity and the natural environment.
EUROPEAN AGRICULTURE AND BIODIVERSITY CHARTER
APPENDIX 37