| Classification Level 1 | Definition | Classification Level 2 |
| Access and benefit sharing | Access to genetic resources, with a focus on prior informed consent, and the distribution of the benefits of genetic diversity, with a focus on equity and transparency (to those whose knowledge is used) and on mutually agreed terms. | Contractual arrangement |
| Financial compensation |
| Cost of notification to ABS clearing house mechanism |
| Nagoya Protocol (ratified/enforced) |
| Bioprospecting, including establishing permitting processes and enabling FPIC/PIC consultations |
| Biodiversity awareness and knowledge | Any campaign, action or initiative aimed at raising awareness about biodiversity, its use and/or its value, whether in informal or formal settings; and any action aimed at generating and providing the data and/or information required to make sound decisions regarding biodiversity; scientific research and investigation into key areas related to all aspects of biodiversity, including ecological, social, economic sciences. | Data generation and spatial mapping |
| Formal biodiversity education |
| Non-formal biodiversity education, including technical training |
| Biodiversity awareness (e.g. public awareness campaigns, park visitor education, events) |
| Biodiversity communication |
| Biodiversity scientific research |
| ICT innovation for biodiversity |
| Valuation of biodiversity and ecosystems |
| Indigenous and local communities knowledge |
| CBD clearing-house mechanism |
| Biosafety | Prevention, containment, and eradication of invasive alien species (IAS) as well as safe handling, transport and use of living modified organisms (LMOs/GMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology that may have adverse effects on biological diversity, also taking into account risks to human health. | Genetically modified organisms (GMOs), including living modified organisms (LMOs) |
| Invasive Alien Species (IAS) |
| Green economy | Sustainable biodiversity benefits from private and public sector actions that aim to reduce negative impacts on nature through improved design, engineering, planning, investing, operations, policy, and management. Certain initiatives go beyond reducing negative impacts to encompass the financing and management of nature through green infrastructure, biodiversity-friendly business, sustainability certification, and greening supply chains. Climate change mitigation (industry) benefits biodiversity indirectly and is included. | Corporate social responsibility (CSR) |
| Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) |
| GHG mitigation |
| Green supply chain |
| Sustainable extractive industries |
| Sustainable consumption |
| Sustainable energy |
| Sustainable investing |
| Sustainable tourism |
| Sustainable transportation |
| Sustainable urban areas |
| Biodiversity and development planning | National, state or local planning, policy, finance, legal, coordination, and enforcement actions that cover multiple biodiversity categories or general issues such as biodiversity and development planning and policy. | Biodiversity laws, policies, plans |
| Other relevant laws, policies, plans |
| Biodiversity coordination and management including networks and partnerships between national and subnational governments |
| Biodiversity finance |
| Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) frameworks |
| Spatial planning |
| Multilateral Environment Agreement (MEA) |
| Pollution management | Biodiversity benefits that derive from activities whose primary purpose is the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution. This category covers most of the activities in the environmental protection category used by the SEEA central framework excluding 6, Protection of biodiversity and landscapes (and 8.6, Research on species, etc.). It overlaps with certain pollution control measures in the sustainable use category, such as promotion of sustainable agriculture. If the written objective is to reduce negative impacts, it should be included here; if it is to improve biodiversity in production systems it should be in “sustainable use”. | Protection and remediation of soil, groundwater and surface water |
| Protection of ambient air and climate |
| Other pollution reduction measures |
| Waste management |
| Wastewater management |
| Coastal and marine pollution debris management |
| Protected areas and other conservation measures | In situ and ex situ measures to protect and safeguard biodiversity at genetic, species and ecosystem levels. | Protected areas management, including indigenous and communities conserved areas |
| Expansion of protected areas including transboundary areas and biodiversity corridors |
| Landscape/seascape conservation, including valuable ecosystem services |
| Poaching, wildlife trade and CITES |
| Loss of valuable habitats, including targeted conservation of species outside PAs |
| Ecosystem connectivity |
| Ex situ conservation of species (botanical gardens and gene banks) |
| Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs), including buffer zones |
| Restoration | The restoration or the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems for biodiversity and ecosystem services objectives. | Reintroduction of species - consider specific sectors under this (e.g., mined out areas, reforestation) |
| Site redevelopment and engineering |
| Site management |
| Post-disaster relief |
| Sustainable use | Sustainable use of renewable natural resource as defined by the CBD. This category is distinguished from the green economy by its focus on ecosystem services, primarily production and the underlying support services. Activities are targeted towards improving biodiversity outcomes in coordination with other co-benefits related to natural resource use. | Agrobiodiversity |
| Sustainable agriculture |
| Sustainable aquaculture |
| Sustainable fisheries |
| Sustainable forestry |
| Sustainable land management (UNCCD and multiple uses) |
| Sustainable marine and coastal management |
| Sustainable rangelands |
| Sustainable wildlife |
