Emerging from the Millenium Ecosystem Assessment follow-up processes, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) was established in April 2012 in Panama to protect the planet’s biodiversity, its ecosystems and the services they provide to humanity.
It provides a mechanism that should enable both the scientific and policy communities to synthesize, review, assess and critically evaluate relevant information and knowledge generated worldwide by governments, academia, scientific organisations, non-governmental organisations and indigenous communities. By doing so, it aims to strengthen capacity for the effective use of science in decision-making at all levels.
The work of IPBES can be broadly grouped into four complementary areas:
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Assessments: On specific themes (e.g. “Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production”); methodological issues (e.g. “Scenarios and Modelling); and at both the regional and global levels (e.g. “Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services”).
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Policy Support: Identifying policy-relevant tools and methodologies, facilitating their use, and catalysing their further development.
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Building Capacity & Knowledge: Identifying and meeting the priority capacity, knowledge and data needs of our member States, experts and stakeholders.
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Communications & Outreach: Ensuring the widest reach and impact of our work.
Centering on these key areas, IPBES aims at a strong collaboration with existing initiatives on biodiversity and ecosystem services, including Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs), United Nations bodies and networks of scientists and all knowledge holders (including indigenous peoples and local communities), to fill gaps and build upon their work, while avoiding duplication. It also strives to be scientifically independent and ensure credibility, relevance and legitimacy through peer review of its work and transparency in its decision-making processes. As such, it hopes to gain similar global scientific authority and policy influences for biodiversity to what the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has for climate change.
For further information on IPBES please visit their website: www.ipbes.net
Stay informed and engaged with ONet
ONet, the Open-ended Network of IPBES Stakeholders, aims to bring all stakeholders and groups of stakeholders interested in IPBES together.
The network, facilitated by IUCN, provides a space for communication and exchanges between IPBES and its members. It also support the effective engagement of stakeholders and knowledge holders in the IPBES process.
Register online on their website to share information, experiences, and ideas: https://onet.ipbes.net