It is a new functional typology for ecosystems by providing a global framework for reporting on Aichi targets Sustainable Development Goals and natural capital accounting as well as for structuring global risk assessments for the IUCN Red List of Ecosystems. The theoretical framework is critical to ensuring classification robustness with a changing knowledge base plus the flexibility to accommodate new information. The hierarchical framework integrates both top-down approaches essential for global consistency and bottom-up approaches to incorporate established ecological classifications already in use and incorporated into policy infrastructure in regional national and sub-national levels e.g. EUNIS habitat classification. This is crucial as important conservation action occurs at local levels where most expertise resides.