The second IPBES Stakeholder Day was held in Panama City, Panama, immediately prior to the Second Session of the Plenary Meeting on an IPBES.
It brought together approximately 50 participants, and aimed to deliver a common message to the Plenary Meeting on the IPBES towards the approval of relevant rules of procedure and participation of stakeholders in the IPBES.
15 April 2012: Approximately 50 participants discussed stakeholders’ engagement in the future Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) during the second Stakeholder Day, which was convened by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) and UN Development Programme (UNDP).
Following a successful first IPBES Stakeholder Day, the second IPBES Stakeholder Day was held on 15 April 2012, in Panama City, Panama, immediately prior to the second session of the plenary meeting on an Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). The Day was facilitated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Council for Science (ICSU), at the request of UNEP. It aimed to deliver a common message to the Plenary Meeting on the IPBES towards the approval of relevant rules of procedure and participation of stakeholders in the IPBES.
On the involvement of stakeholders in the functions and structures of the IPBES bodies, participants emphasized the role of the plenary, including establishing a mechanism to ensure stakeholders’ active, efficient and effective participation. On the role of existing platforms, it was emphasized that stakeholders must be engaged before, during and after the process through face to face and electronic means, and that knowledge holders need to be included.
On modalities for stakeholders’ involvement in plenary meetings, the group noted that relevant stakeholder organization should be granted rights to present oral and written statements to IPBES and this be supported through criteria for their participation. On other procedures relating to stakeholders’ involvement in IPBES operations, the group stated that the plenary should set criteria on selection of authors, reviewers and editors based on scientific credentials. For traditional knowledge systems, the importance to maintain the knowledge holders on board of the process was underlined. A need to consider geographic representation of scientists for assessments was also emphasized.
Recommendations presented to the second session included adopting a mechanism for full and effective participation of all stakeholders, and on regional structures to integrate the four functions of the platform. [IISD RS Coverage of the Second Session of the Plenary Meeting on an IPBES] [Second IPBES Stakeholder Day] [IISD RS Sources]