The report of the first session of the preparatory meeting for an IPBES notes that the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP) Secretariat will develop a revised document on the work programme, based on comments received during the preparatory meeting, and make it available on an interactive website by 31 October 2011.
10 October 2011: The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has published the report of the first session of the plenary meeting to determine modalities and institutional arrangements for an intergovernmental science policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services (IPBES) (UNEP/IPBES.MI/1/8). The report highlights the modalities and arrangements discussed at the meeting, as well as agreement on a process for preparing for the second session of a plenary meeting.
The first session was held from 3-7 October 2011, in Nairobi, Kenya. Modalities and arrangements discussed include: legal issues relating to the establishment and operationalization of an IPBES; functions and operating principles; functions and structures of bodies that might be established under the Platform; rules of procedure for meetings; process and criteria for selecting the host institution or institutions; and work programme.
On the legal status, according to the report, many participants recognized that it was important to operationalize the Platform in view of current threats to biodiversity. However, views diverged on the Platform’s status, with some suggesting that it had not yet been established. Some highlighted the need to focus on the mandate of the current meeting, rather than discuss the establishment of the Platform. Many, however, were in favor of establishing the Platform by the plenary meeting and transforming it into the first plenary meeting of the Platform.
The report also notes that it was agreed that the UNEP Secretariat would develop a revised document on the work programme, based on comments received during the preparatory meeting, and make it available for further comment on an interactive website by 31 October 2011. Comments received by 15 December 2011 would be compiled and made available with an updated version of the work programme document for the second session of the plenary meeting, to be held in early 2012. [Publication: Report of the First Session of the Plenary Meeting to Determine Modalities and Institutional Arrangements for an IPBES] [Documents from First Session]