Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services(CICES) V5.1
Source: CICES
The updated Common International Classification of Ecosystem Services (CICES) Version 5.1 aims to better classify ecosystem contributions to human well-being. Developed through extensive consultations and compatible with its predecessor, V4.3, the new version refines definitions and includes both biotic and abiotic aspects of ecosystems. It maintains its hierarchical structure to categorize services into provisioning, regulation, and cultural benefits. Importantly, CICES V5.1 is designed not only to classify ecosystem services but also to serve as a reference framework that allows for translation between different ecosystem service classification systems, such as the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) and The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB).
Near the end of our research we stumbled upon a SEEA CICES TEEB MA IPBES Cross Reference from the UN which we have formatted for clarity here.
Ecosystem Service Categories
Provisioning; Regulation and Maintenance; Cultural. Then further classification of biotic and abiotic.
Ecosystem Services Classified
Cultivated Aquatic Plants for Nutrition, Materials or Energy
Genetic Material From Animals
Genetic Material from Plants, Algae or Fungi
Genetic Material from Organisms
Cultivated Terrestrial Plants for Nutrition, Materials or Energy
Wild Plants (Terrestrial & Aquatic) for Nutrition, Materials or Energy
Reared Aquatic Animals for Nutrition, Materials or Energy
Surface Water Used for Nutrition, Materials or Energy
Wild Animals (Terrestrial & Aquatic) for Nutrition, Materials or Energy
Reared Animals For Nutrition, Materials or Energy
Atmospheric Composition & Conditions
Intellectual & Representative Interactions with Natural Environment
Mediation of Nuisances of Anthropogenic Origin
Physical & Experiential Interactions with Natural Environment
Pest & Disease Control
Water Conditions
Other Biotic Characteristics That Have a Non-Use Value
Spiritual, Symbolic & Other Interactions with Natural Environment
Groundwater used for Nutrition, Materials or Energy
Mediation Of Wastes or Toxic Substances of Anthropogenic Origin by Living Processes
Regulation of Baseline Flows & Extreme Events
Lifecycle Maintenance, Habitat & Gene Pool Protection
Regulation of Soil Quality
Full List from CICES Appendix 1: Overview of CICES V5.1
Category: Provisioning
Cultivated terrestrial plants for nutrition, materials or energy
Name Used (Class): Cultivated terrestrial plants (including fungi, algae) grown for nutritional purposes
Metrics (Class Type): Crops by amount, type (e.g. cereals, root crops, soft fruit, etc.)
Name Used (Class): Fibres and other materials from cultivated plants, fungi, algae and bacteria for direct use or processing
Metrics (Class Type): Material by amount, type, use, media (land, soil, freshwater, marine)
Name Used (Class): Cultivated plants (including fungi, algae) grown as a source of energy
Metrics (Class Type): By amount, type, source
Cultivated aquatic plants for nutrition, materials or energy
Name Used (Class): Cultivated plants grown for **nutritional** purposes by in- situ aquaculture
Metrics (Class Type): Plants, algae by amount, type
Name Used (Class): Cultivated plants grown for **material** purposes by in- situ aquaculture (excluding genetic materials)
Metrics (Class Type): Plants, algae by amount, type
Name Used (Class): Cultivated plants grown as a source of **energy** by in-situ aquaculture
Metrics (Class Type): Plants, algae by amount, type
Reared animals for nutrition, materials or energy
Name Used (Class): Animals reared to provide **nutrition**
Metrics (Class Type): Animals, products by amount, type (e.g. beef, dairy)
Name Used (Class): Fibres and other **materials** from reared animals for direct use or processing (excluding genetic materials)
Metrics (Class Type): Material by amount, type, use, media (land, soil, freshwater, marine)
Name Used (Class): Animals reared to provide **energy** (including mechanical)
Metrics (Class Type): By amount, type, source
Reared aquatic animals for nutrition, materials or energy
Name Used (Class): Animals reared by in-situ aquaculture for nutritional purposes
Metrics (Class Type): Animals by amount, type
Name Used (Class): Animals reared by in-situ aquaculture for material purposes (excluding genetic materials)
Metrics (Class Type): Animals by amount, type
Name Used (Class): Animals reared by in-situ aquaculture as an energy source
Metrics (Class Type): Animals by amount, type
Surface water used for nutrition, materials or energy
Name Used (Class): Surface water for drinking
Metrics (Class Type): By amount, type, source
Name Used (Class): Surface water used as a material (non- drinking purposes)
Metrics (Class Type): By amount & source
Name Used (Class): Freshwater surface water used as an energy source
Metrics (Class Type): By amount, type, source
Name Used (Class): Coastal and marine water used as energy source
Metrics (Class Type): By amount, type, source
Ground water for used for nutrition, materials or energy
Name Used (Class): Ground water for drinking
Metrics (Class Type): By amount, type, source
Name Used (Class): Ground water used as a material (non- drinking purposes)
Metrics (Class Type): By amount & source
Name Used (Class): Ground water used as an energy source
Metrics (Class Type): By amount & source
Mineral substances used for nutrition, materials or energy
Name Used (Class): Mineral substances used for nutrition
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Mineral substances used for material purposes
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Mineral substances used for as an energy source
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Non-mineral substances or ecosystem properties used for nutrition, materials or energy
Name Used (Class): Non-mineral substances or ecosystem properties used for nutrition
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Non-mineral substances used for materials
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Wind energy
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Solar energy
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Geothermal
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Category: Regulation and Maintenance
Mediation of wastes or toxic substances of anthropogenic origin by living processes
Name Used (Class): Bio-remediation by micro-organisms, algae, plants, and animals
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or by waste or subsistence type
Name Used (Class): Filtration/sequestration/storage/accumulation by micro-organisms, algae, plants, and animals
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system, or by water or substance type
Mediation of nuisances of anthropogenic origin
Name Used (Class): Smell reduction
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system
Name Used (Class): Noise attenuation
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system
Name Used (Class): Visual screening
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system
Name Used (Class): Mediation of nuisances by abiotic structures or processes
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Regulation of baseline flows and extreme events
Name Used (Class): Control of erosion rates
Metrics (Class Type): By reduction in risk, area protected
Name Used (Class): Buffering and attenuation of mass movement
Metrics (Class Type): By reduction in risk, area protected
Name Used (Class): Hydrological cycle and water flow regulation (Including flood control)
Metrics (Class Type): By depth/volumes
Name Used (Class): Storm protection
Metrics (Class Type): By reduction in risk, area protected
Name Used (Class): Fire protection
Metrics (Class Type): By reduction in risk, area protected
Name Used (Class): Mass flows
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Liquid flows
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Gaseous flows
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Lifecycle maintenance, habitat and gene pool protection
Name Used (Class): Pollination (or 'gamete' dispersal in a marine context)
Metrics (Class Type): By amount and pollinator
Name Used (Class): Seed dispersal
Metrics (Class Type): By amount and dispersal agent
Name Used (Class): Maintaining nursery populations and habitats (Including gene pool protection)
Metrics (Class Type): By amount and source
Pest and disease control
Name Used (Class): Pest control (including invasive species)
Metrics (Class Type): By reduction in incidence, risk, area protected by type of living system
Name Used (Class): Disease control
Metrics (Class Type): By reduction in incidence, risk, area protected by type of living system
Regulation of soil quality
Name Used (Class): Weathering processes and their effect on soil quality
Metrics (Class Type): By amount/concentration and source
Name Used (Class): Decomposition and fixing processes and their effect on soil quality
Metrics (Class Type): By amount/concentration and source
Water conditions
Name Used (Class): Regulation of the chemical condition of freshwaters by living processes
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system
Name Used (Class): Regulation of the chemical condition of salt waters by living processes
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system
Atmospheric composition and conditions
Name Used (Class): Regulation of chemical composition of atmosphere
Metrics (Class Type): By contribution of type of living system to amount, concentration or climatic parameter
Name Used (Class): Regulation of temperature and humidity, including ventilation and transpiration
Metrics (Class Type): By contribution of type of living system to amount, concentration or climatic parameter
Mediation of waste, toxics and other nuisances by non- living processes
Name Used (Class): Dilution by freshwater and marine ecosystems
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Dilution by atmosphere
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Name Used (Class): Mediation by other chemical or physical means (e.g. via Filtration, sequestration, storage or accumulation)
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Maintenance of physical, chemical, abiotic conditions
Name Used (Class): Maintenance and regulation by inorganic natural chemical and physical processes
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Category: Cultural
Physical and experiential interactions with natural environment
Name Used (Class): Characteristics of living systems that that enable activities promoting health, recuperation or enjoyment through active or immersive interactions
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Characteristics of living systems that enable activities promoting health, recuperation or enjoyment through passive or observational interactions
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Natural, abiotic characteristics of nature that enable active or passive physical and experiential interactions
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Intellectual and representative interactions with natural environment
Name Used (Class): Characteristics of living systems that enable scientific investigation or the creation of traditional ecological knowledge
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Characteristics of living systems that enable education and training
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Characteristics of living systems that are resonant in terms of culture or heritage
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Characteristics of living systems that enable aesthetic experiences
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Natural, abiotic characteristics of nature that enable intellectual interactions
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Spiritual, symbolic and other interactions with natural environment
Name Used (Class): Elements of living systems that have symbolic meaning
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Elements of living systems that have sacred or religious meaning
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Elements of living systems used for entertainment or representation
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Natural, abiotic characteristics of nature that enable spiritual, symbolic and other interactions
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Other biotic characteristics that have a non-use value
Name Used (Class): Characteristics or features of living systems that have an existence value
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Characteristics or features of living systems that have an bequest value
Metrics (Class Type): By type of living system or environmental setting
Name Used (Class): Natural, abiotic characteristics or features of nature that have either an existence or bequest value
Metrics (Class Type): Amount by type
Last updated