Colombia hosts 6th session of IPBES Plenary, March 17-24; After 3 years of work by 550 experts worldwide, 4 reports on regional biodiversity and 1 on land degradation scheduled for approval; Member States will also consider future IPBES work
INTERGOVERNMENTAL SCIENCE-POLICY PLATFORM ON BIODIVERSITY AND ECOSYSTEM SERVICES (IPBES)
Medellin, Colombia -- Beginning with an official opening ceremony to be addressed by the President of Colombia on Saturday, leading experts from around the world will convene here for eight days with policymakers from more than 115 countries to finalize landmark reports from five major expert assessments, focused on biodiversity, nature's contributions to people and issues of land degradation and restoration.
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 Sir Robert Watson, at the Intercontinental Hotel, Medellín, from 17-26 March.
The Americas Regional Assessment has been completed and has been approved by the UN. Media launch is anticipated Friday morning, March 23, 2018. The Americas assessment shows unusually high biodiversity in the region, but widespread loss of biodiversity and nature's contributions to people across the all of the subregions of the Americas. Policy options are available to address these losses.
It has been extremely rewarding to work with scientists from across the Americas to assess biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people and quite a learning experience to participate in the science-policy process! Over 100 governments are represented here in Medellin, including the United States, and the high level of dialogue on biodiversity has been inspiring.