From January 30 to February 3, 2017, a working meeting of experts from the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) from Central Europe (CE), Eastern Europe (EE), and Central Asia took place in Antalya. Representatives from the Ecological Movement “BIOM” and the American University of Central Asia participated from Kyrgyzstan.
The aim of this meeting is to assess the state of biodiversity and the benefits it brings to society in CE, EE, and CA, through group discussions and literature sessions involving experts from the specified subregions. The meeting contributed to the main mission of IPBES — strengthening scientific and political collaboration in the field of biodiversity and ecosystem services for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being, and sustainable development.
The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is an independent intergovernmental body open to all member countries of the United Nations. IPBES operates under the auspices of four UN entities: UNEP, UNESCO, FAO, and UNDP, and is managed by UNEP. Currently, a thousand scientists from around the world contribute to the work of IPBES on a voluntary basis.
The 125 current members of the Platform are very interested in establishing IPBES as the leading intergovernmental body for assessing the state of the planet’s biodiversity, its ecosystems, and the essential services that ecosystems provide to society in response to requests from decision-makers. As part of this activity, a series of regional assessment reports are prepared, including regional assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services for Europe and Central Asia (ECA).
More detailed information on the scope of regional assessments can be found here, and on ECA assessments here. The IPBES assessment is a critical assessment of the state of knowledge regarding biodiversity and ecosystem services. It is based on existing peer-reviewed literature, grey literature, and other knowledge systems. It does not entail commitments to undertake the original study. The knowledge assessment process includes analysis, synthesis, and critical discussion of information by experts and the presentation of such conclusions to governments and relevant stakeholders upon their request. The expert assessment is a key component of IPBES’s work to ensure that a range of viewpoints is reflected in its work, as well as that the work is completed according to the highest scientific standards. IPBES assessments must be credible, legitimate, and relevant. The ECA assessment report will evaluate the state and trends regarding biodiversity and ecosystem services and their interrelationships, the impact of biodiversity and ecosystem services, and threats to them on human well-being and the effectiveness of responses. The assessments will consider terrestrial, freshwater, coastal, and marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. The overall goal of the mentioned regional/subregional assessments is to strengthen scientific and political collaboration on biodiversity and ecosystem services at regional and subregional levels for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being, and sustainable development.
