Terms & Definitions:

Biochemical products: Where chemicals produced by natural resources are used directly for use in pharmaceuticals or other products such as cosmetics, bioremediation, bio-monitoring, ecological restoration.

Biodiversity: Variability among living organisms from all sources, including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part.

CCMP: Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan. As a National Estuary Program, the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary (Partnership) is charged with implementing the goals of its 1996 "Comprehensive Conservation and Management Plan" (CCMP). This is a guiding document that includes numerous education, outreach, science, management and policy goals.

Creation: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics present to develop a habitat that did not previously exist. Creation results in gain in acres.

Enhancement: The manipulation of physical, chemical or biological characteristics of a site with a goal to heighten, intensify, or improve specific functions or for a purpose such as water quality improvement, flood water retention or wildlife habitat. Enhancement typically results in improvement of structure and/or function without an increase in acreage. This includes activities commonly associated with the terms enhancement, management, manipulation, and directed alteration.

Fiber & Fuel: May include resources necessary for the production of clothing, building, or other materials (ie. timber, cotton, silk) or materials that can be used for fuel (ie. wood, oil, cellulose stock).

Genetic Materials: Unique genetic traits which contribute to resilience and overall adaptive potential of a population of organisms, like in the case of disease resistance or drought resistance. Genetic materials may also be valued for human uses such as creating medical treatments or producing heirloom varieties of vegetables.

Habitat Connectivity: Linking or connecting of habitats to maintain or restore movements or natural processes associated with the habitat or land cover type.

Natural Capital Values: Include any benefits imparted by the natural world, which can be received by humans or for ecosystem function. Different terminology may be used to describe this concept, for example, many groups describe this concept as ecosystem services.

Nutrient Cycling: The process by which nutrients pass through a system by various means of uptake, release and decomposition so that they are available to other organisms for use.

Protection: Removal or a threat to, or preventing the decline of conditions. Includes mechanisms such as land acquisition, conservation easements, deed restrictions, etc. or other designation to prevent alteration of the site. This term also includes activities commonly associated with the term preservation. Protection/maintenance does not result in a gain of acres or habitat function.

Restoration: The manipulation of the physical, chemical, or biological characteristics of a site with the goal of maximizing the structure and function (aka natural capital) of a habitat in the context of shifting baseline conditions due to climate change and land use changes, and, if possible and sustainable, return to best possible historic condition. Restoration also results in a gain in acres for that habitat.

Water Cycling: The natural flow of water through a system, which may be altered due to structural changes to rivers, extraction of water and other human uses.