IPBESAn update on the platform

What is IPBES?
• Established in April 2012,Panama City, after years of
discussion and negotiation.
• An interface between scientificand policy communities• Filling gaps at multiple scales• Multiple contributors and users

A long process
Identificationof needs andgaps

Nov. 2008 - Putrajaya, Malaysia

We need anIPBES

June 2010 - Busan, Republic of Korea

Modalities ofoperation andestablishment

Oct. 2011- Nairobi, Kenya

Oct. 2009 - Nairobi, Kenya

April 2012 - Panama City, Panama
Intersessional process

Operation-alisation

Jan. 2013 - First plenary meetingWhat will IPBES do?
Four main functions• Knowledge generation• Regular and timely
assessments• Support policy formulationand implementation• Capacity buildingUnder which principles
will IPBES operate?
Address terrestrial,
marine and inland
water biodiversity andecosystem services
and their interactions
Full participation ofdeveloping countries

Inter- and multidisciplinary
approach
Gender equity

Bottom-up

Policy-relevant but notpolicy-prescriptive

Contribution of indigenous
and local knowledge

Collaboration –avoiding duplication
Scientificindependence,credibility,relevance andlegitimacy

Who are theIPBES Stakeholders?
IPBES relevant to a wide range of stakeholders, including:• Governments (including through biodiversity and ecosystemservices related Conventions, UN bodies, and IGOs)• International scientific community• NGOs• Private sector• Indigenous people, farmer’s associations, etc.
• Potential donors;• General public and media.

How isIPBES structured?
Plenary – Decision making body of the Platform• Government Members (currently 92) and observers
Bureau – Overseeing administrative functions• 10 members (2 from each UN region)
Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP) – overseeing scientificand technical functions• 25 members ( 5 from each UN region)Potential activities in the areaof assessments• Regular multidisciplinary assessments at regional(including sub-regional) and global scales.
• Thematic assessments on policy relevant issues,
including emerging issues• Technical support and capacity building for national
assessment activities• Developing common frameworks and tools forassessment• Catalogue of assessments• Produce and disseminate reports – but the assessment
process also important!

Potential activities in the areaof policy support• Overview of policy-relevant
knowledge, tools andmethodologies• Partnerships to develop priority
tools and approaches• Promotion of effective tools throughcommunication and capacity
building• Policy-relevant (eg sector specific)
knowledge syntheses

Potential capacity building
activities• Maintain a list of CB needs• Specific workshops and training
on assessment approaches• Increasing access to data,
information and knowledge foruse in assessment• Scholarships, fellowship
programme, mentoring• Peer to peer exchange visits• Regional hubs supporting
assessment and peer learning

Potential activities onknowledge generation• Identifying and communicating
gaps in knowledge – includingfrom assessments• Convening research and donor
communities to agree on
policy-relevant research
priorities• Supporting peer learning andnetworks to strengthen
generation of policy-relevant
research

Current process on IPBESResolving various proceduralelements• Rules of procedure• Other procedures
Preparations for the initial work
programme of the platform• Capacity building needs• Scoping process• Overview of assessments• Conceptual framework• MEP bioregional structureGetting involved• Contribute to the current
intersessional process• Participate in IPBES-1 (21 to 26 Jan.
2013, Bonn Germany)• Future contribution to implementationof IPBES work programme – this will
depend on thousands of scientists
and policy makers!

For more informationwww.ipbes.net
or contact

ipbes.unep@unep.org