The first meeting of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-1) will be hosted by the Government of Germany. The meeting will aim to agree on the remaining rules of procedures for the meetings of the platform, consider other rules of procedure for the platform, elect Bureau and Multidisciplinary Expert Panel members, and agree on the next steps by which the IPBES work programme can become operational as soon as possible. IPBES-1 will be a meeting of Members of the Platform's plenary, with observers. Regional and stakeholder consultations will take place one day prior to the meeting, on 20 January 2013.  

dates: 21-26 January 2013   location: Bonn, Germany   contact: Makiko Yashiro   e-mail: Makiko.Yashiro@unep.org   www: http://www.ipbes.net/plenary/ipbes-1.html