The ninth session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-9) approved the thematic assessment of the sustainable use of wild species and the methodological assessment of the diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits, including biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services.

The meeting also approved the scoping report for a methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people, and the work programme deliverables and work plans of the five IPBES task forces for the intersessional period 2022-2023.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) summary report of the meeting notes that negotiations on both assessments and the scoping report were difficult and lengthy. Despite fatigue, ENB writes, IPBES-9 participants noted that “the sustainable use assessment offers a comprehensive analysis of sustainable use of wild species, unlike any other in history.” “We used to work in silos; this time we worked together to get the big picture and ended up with a picture much bigger than we ever thought,” said John Donaldson, one of the assessment’s co-chairs.

With respect to the values assessment, Co-Chair Patricia Balvanera stated: “Given that human societies value nature in very different and sometimes conflicting ways, assessing this diversity of values and how they are incorporated into decision-making will contribute to addressing conflicts over nature and promoting more equitable decisions.”

The scoping report sets the stage for the business and biodiversity assessment. According to the ENB, “as most in the biodiversity community underscore, unless the impacts and dependencies of business on biodiversity are fully taken into account, the biodiversity crisis cannot be comprehensively addressed.” The business and biodiversity assessment will support efforts by business to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity and the three objectives of the CBD (conservation of biodiversity; sustainable use of biodiversity; and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the use of genetic resources), along with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its SDGs, among other relevant frameworks.

The ENB analysis of the meeting highlights that while the “work undertaken at IPBES-9 provides a solid foundation for continuing to improve the science-policy knowledge base for biodiversity,” its uptake among the practitioners, conservationists, and policymakers “remains to be seen,” in part due to the challenges associated with communicating complex concepts in clear and simple messages decision makers can understand.

IPBES was established in 2012 as an independent intergovernmental body to provide evidence-based, objective, and policy-relevant information to decision makers regarding the planet’s biodiversity, ecosystems, and the benefits they provide to people. IPBES-9 convened in Bonn, Germany, from 3-9 July 2022. It was preceded by the IPBES-9 Stakeholder Day, which took place on 2 July. [Earth Negotiations Bulletin Coverage of IPBES-9 and Stakeholder Day]