Glossary
This page is also available on page 44 of the Wales Naturfa Site Assessment tool (PDF), PDF file
Biodiversity
The variety and complexity of life - within species (genes), across species, and ecosystems. Biodiversity definition | Biodiversity A-Z
Designated Landscapes
Areas in Wales, designated as National Parks or National Landscapes, where the interaction of people and nature over time has produced a distinct character with significant ecological, cultural, and scenic value. Protection focuses on maintaining this interaction. They are recognised as Category V Protected Areas. Protected areas definition | Biodiversity A-Z
Designated sites / Protected sites
Areas formally identified for their biodiversity importance, often under national or international frameworks. Examples include Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), Special Protection Areas, and Ramsar sites Natural Resources Wales / Find protected areas of land and sea
Ecosystems
A community of living things (plants, animals, and microorganisms) interacting with each other and with their surroundings (soil, water, and air) as one connected system. Ecosystem definition | Biodiversity A-Z.
Equity
Fairness in governance and management, ensuring recognition of rights, inclusive decision-making, and fair distribution of benefits and costs Guidance on other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) | IUCN Library System
FPIC (Free, Prior and Informed Consent)
Consent given freely, without coercion, prior to activities, and based on full information about potential impacts, respecting customary decision-making processes IHRB - What is Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC)?
Governance
How decisions are made and how power and responsibilities are exercised in a group, organization, or society Governance definition | Biodiversity A-Z
Governing authority
The entity (individual, organisation, or body) with responsibility for managing a site and making decisions about its use and conservation Guidance on other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) | IUCN Library System
Priority habitat
Semi-natural habitats of principal importance for the purpose of maintaining and enhancing biodiversity in relation to Wales. Listed under Section 7 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016. Section 7 - Wales Biodiversity Partnership
Resilient Ecological Network (REN)
A connected network of habitats designed to improve ecological resilience and support nature recovery across Wales. RENs link core biodiversity areas (such as protected sites) with surrounding landscapes to allow species movement, maintain ecosystem processes, and provide multiple benefits for biodiversity and human well-being. They are based on principles of diversity, extent, condition, and connectivity, ensuring ecosystems can resist, recover, and adapt to pressures like climate change and habitat loss Natural Resources Wales / Practitioners’ guide to Resilient Ecological Networks
Rights holder
Individuals or groups who hold legal or customary rights relating to a site. All people are rights holders under human rights law, but in biodiversity contexts, this often refers to those with land tenure or resource rights Rights-holders definition | Biodiversity A-Z
Rights holder
Individuals and communities whose lives might be affected, positively or negatively, by a project, and those who can influence its outcomes. IUCN (PDF)