22 February 2016: Representatives from academia, civil society, indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs) and the private sector spent two days receiving updates on the work of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and coordinating their contribution to the Platform’s fourth plenary session (IPBES-4). The ‘Stakeholder Days,’ facilitated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and the International Council for Science (ICSU)/Future Earth along with other volunteers, convened just before the commencement of IPBES-4.

Participants were informed on experiences from the Platform’s first assessment reports, which are to be released pending deliberation by IPBES-4. The assessments include: a thematic assessment on pollinators, pollination and food production; and a methodological assessment on scenarios and models of biodiversity and ecosystem services.

In a series of plenary and small group sessions, participants also discussed: the state of regional assessments; capacity building; how to best use the outcomes of the first two assessments; the creation of an open-ended inclusive network of IPBES stakeholders; the experience of the Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) and challenges in bridging existing networks; how to enhance the engagement of IPLCs; the procedure for the review of the Platform; linking existing networks to the IPBES Stakeholder Network; and the stakeholder statement for the opening plenary of IPBES-4.

The meeting was closed by IPBES Chair Zakri Abdul Hamid who lauded participants for their inspiring, practical and “from the heart” views, which emphasize the critical role of the Platform as the first assessment reports are readied for release.

IPBES-4 convenes from 22-28 February, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. [IISD RS Coverage of IPBES-4 and Stakeholder Days] [IPBES-4 Website] [Invitation to Stakeholder Days]