14 July 2013: The Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has released the report of the 1st Bureau and Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP) Meetings, which took place in Bergen, Norway, from 2-6 June 2013.

At the joint meeting, the Bureau and MEP agreed to work together on the draft procedures for assessment reports and other platform deliverables, and the draft scoping process. The joint meeting also addressed: IPBES Conceptual Framework; work programme; scoping process; procedures for reporting; indigenous knowledge; MEP regional approach; stakeholder engagement; and strategic partnerships.

The Bureau separately reviewed the conflict of interest policy and highlighted the importance of adopting a Code of Practice for Bureau members. The Bureau also looked at the draft review of procedures for the selection of the MEP, and highlighted that the Bureau was well positioned to consider regional shortlists of MEP candidates to ensure a balance of regional, gender and expertise on the Panel.

In its separate meeting, the Bureau also discussed the guidance on strategic partnerships, with consensus that partnerships should be limited in number and not jeopardize the independence of the Platform. Finally, the status of income and expenditure since the establishment of the Platform was considered, with the Bureau highlighting that many of the pledges made during IPBES-1 for financial support from governments were yet to be received, and also that the levels of funding provided to date were short of that which would be required to fully implement the expected work programme.

The MEP meeting separately addressed the working modalities and role of the MEP during the interim period 2013-2014, as well as the role of the MEP at the regional level in the development and implementation of the work programme. [IPBES News] [IPBES 1st Bureau and MEP Meetings]