Five major biodiversity reports set to be finalised

Scientists, biodiversity experts and policymakers from across the globe will assemble here to finalise landmark reports from five major expert assessments focused on biodiversity, nature's contributions to people and issues of land degradation and restoration, it was announced on Friday.

An estimated 750 delegates will participate in the sixth session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES6), chaired by Robert Watson, from March 17 to 26.

"Taken together, these five peer-reviewed assessment reports represent the single most important expert contribution to our global understanding of biodiversity and ecosystem services of the past decade," said Watson.

The assessments will provide unprecedented insights into the status of global biodiversity and land quality, both of which are essential to the quality of life and healthy, productive ecosystems.

Often called 'the IPCC for biodiversity', IPBES is the global science-policy platform tasked with providing the best available evidence to inform better decisions about nature.

The reports being launched at IPBES6 were completed over three years by 550 scientists and experts from more than 100 countries.

Four of the studies present the state of biodiversity and nature's contributions to people in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, Europe and Central Asia.

The fifth assessment report assesses the global problem of land degradation and available remedies.

The five reports will be key inputs to a comprehensive IPBES global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services, due for release in 2019, the first such global evaluation since the authoritative 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

In addition to helping decision makers evaluate lessons learned and progress on major global development commitments - such as the Sustainable Development Goals, the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Paris Agreement on climate change - the reports will also provide vital information for setting biodiversity targets for the period after 2020.

"Biodiversity and nature's contributions are essential to sustain the economic well-being, food security and quality of life of all people.

"As one of the most biodiverse countries on earth, Colombia provides the ideal setting for IPBES6," Watson added.

Speaking about the confluence of so many important environmental activities, IPBES Executive Secretary Anne Larigauderie said: "IPBES is proud to be able to offer decision makers around the world evidence they need for better policies and more effective action for the sustainable future we want."

--IANS

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