Strengthening the Science-PolicyPlatform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Africa Consultation on IPBES7 - 8 May 2010Nairobi, KenyaPeter Gilruth, Director, DEWA

Context

The background documents requested by the 2nd IPBES meeting, include:

• Assessment landscape

• State of play of existing and current indicators

• Current and planned capacity building activities

• IPCC governance structure and procedures

• Options and criteria for a possible Secretariat

• Indicative budget

Assessment landscape

Assessments are critical evaluations of information designed to guide decision-making on complex issues

What does the assessment landscape paper review?

Assessment landscape (cont’d)

Key conclusions from this review

ISSUE KEY MESSAGE

Scales Relevant at multiple scales (very local to global)

Themes and focus Would benefit from using the same general themes, language and conceptual framework

Ecosystem services and biodiversity Biodiversity is defined in many ways, often confined to simply its dimensions relating to species

Periodicity and time frame Most useful assessments generate a variety of highly relevant products, with a major product once every 4 - 5 years

The authorizing environment and legitimacy

This is variable across the assessments

Scientific credibility This is variable across the assessments

Policy impact and relevance Has had variable impacts on decision-making processes

Assessment landscape (cont’d)

Key conclusions from this review (cont’d)

ISSUE KEY MESSAGE

Stakeholder involvement Highly variable

Conceptual framework Each assessment uses or develops its own conceptual framework, methodologies, indicators and databases

Data used Most assessment draw from peer review literature, data provided by Governments or authoritative research institutions, expert opinion and other assessments

Communication to key audiences Few assessments have built in sufficient outreach capacity, efforts should be made to ensure that the communication is based on strong science credibility

Capacity-building Efforts to build capacity to contribute to the preparation of assessment is often accorded high priority

Institutions for assessments Most effective assessment have tended to be those with an institutional home

Biodiversity indicators

Indicators are tools for measuring and communicating progress

What do indicators provide and how are they used?

Biodiversity indicators (cont’d)

The key messages from this review

ISSUE KEY MESSAGE

Established need Biodiversity and ecosystem service indicators are needed on various scales for various uses

Existing experience Substantial experience has already been accumulated in developing and using biodiversity and ecosystem service indicators

Good science The process of developing indicators should follow the best available scientific practices

Indicator theory and conceptual frameworks

Indicators are often defined and developed collectively within frameworks

Building capacity National capacity for framework application, indicator development, data collection and information management needs to be developed

Communicating indicators Recognition needs to be given to the importance of developing communication strategies for indicators

Collaboration and facilitation

It would be beneficial if the research and policy communities were to work together in a more coordinated way

Global partnership Efforts should be made to consider the involvement of all potential developers and users of indicators

Capacity building

How can IPBES best complement existing capacity development initiatives while responding to prevailing needs and demands?

Capacity building (cont’d)

The effectiveness of an IPBES depends, among others, on the capacity developed in all aspects of the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services:

Science; Assessment; Policy and Observation

Capacity building (cont’d)

3 main capacity development objectives

Support data collection, analysis and data sharing to address pertinent gaps and harmonise the currently fragmented system through fostering initiatives of GEOSS and GEO BON

Enhance communication and outreach for bridging the science-policy gap

Strengthen institutions, to provide incentives for change and to establish and sustain capacity at the appropriate level

Summary of principles governing the IPCC

Cross-reference between IPBES and IPCC

Upon request by the 2nd IPBES meeting, the UNEP Secretariat prepared a short summary of principles governing the IPCC

The document is for information purposes only and should not be considered an authoritative description of the IPCC as such

Thank you for listening! For more information, please visit: www.ipbes.netTo subscribe to the mailing list, please send a request to: ipbes.unep@unep.org