April 2016: The Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has released the report of the fourth session of its Plenary (IPBES-4).

The report covers the discussions in Plenary on all items of the IPBES-4 agenda, including on: the summaries for policy makers (SPM) of the Thematic Assessment on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production and the Methodological Assessment on Scenarios and Models of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services; and the scoping of upcoming assessments including a global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services, a methodological assessment on diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits, and thematic assessments on invasive alien species and sustainable use of biodiversity. It also covers other items under the Platform’s Work Programme, including capacity building, indigenous and local knowledge systems, and policy support tools; other substantive matters such rules of procedure and review of the Platform; and administrative issues including the Platform’s financial and budgetary arrangements.

The Annex contains the text of all decisions adopted during the meeting. IPBES-4 was held 22-28 February 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was preceded by two days of stakeholder consultations. [Publication: Report of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services on the Work of its Fourth Session] [IISD RS Story on IPBES-4 Outcomes] [IISD RS Coverage of IPBES-4 and Stakeholder Days]