The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) was established by an intergovernmental meeting in Panama City, Panama on 21 April 2012 with the objective of strengthening the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human wellbeing and sustainable development. IPBES will respond to requests for scientific information related to biodiversity and ecosystem services from Governments, relevant multilateral environmental agreements and United Nations bodies, as well as other relevant stakeholders. IPBES will seek to:

• identify and prioritise key scientific information needed for policymakers
• catalogue and critically review assessments relating to biodiversity and ecosystem services
• support policy formulation and implementation by identifying policy-relevant tools and methodologies
• identify key capacity-building needs to improve the science-policy interface

Information on the current IPBES intersessional process is now available on the IPBES website.

For further information on IPBES please visit their website.

For the latest news on the IPBES process and the UK’s involvement see the IPBES page. 

UK Government and IPBES

The UK government pledged £2 million (from Defra and DfID) between 2011-2015 to help support IPBES. JNCC will support Defra in achieving a pragmatic evidence-based approach to IPBES and its work building on existing initiatives, and by facilitating efficient engagement with the UK biodiversity science and policy communities.  Register your interest and be part of the UK’s engagement process.