Fourth Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental
Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-4)

The Stakeholder Days preceding the Fourth Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES 4 Stakeholder Days) opened on Saturday, 20 February 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In the morning, participants met to hear opening statements from dignitaries. They also heard updates on IPBES and the implementation of its work programme thus far.

In the afternoon, participants were informed on the work of the task forces, and experiences from the first thematic and methodological assessments, and the regional assessments. A series of breakout group sessions then convened to discuss regional assessments, address how to best utilize the outcomes of the assessments on pollinators, scenarios and modeling, and capacity building, and prepare a draft opening statement for the IPBES 4 Plenary.

On Sunday, 21 February 2016, participants gathered for the second and final day of the Stakeholder Days preceding the Fourth Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-4 Stakeholder Days). 

In the morning, they heard a presentation on arrangements for stakeholder participation during the IPBES Plenary and discussed the creation of an open-ended inclusive network of IPBES stakeholders, the experience of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net), and challenges in bridging existing networks.

In the afternoon, participants discussed in breakout groups: how to enhance the engagement of indigenous people and local communities (IPLC); the procedure for the review of the Platform; linking existing networks to the IPBES Stakeholder network; and stakeholder coordination. Participants then gathered to hear report backs from the breakout groups and discuss the Stakeholders Statement for the opening plenary of IPBES-4. Participants then heard closing statements from dignitaries.

The Fourth Session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiveristy and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-4) opened on Monday, 22 February 2016 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In the morning, delegates heard opening statements, addressed organizational matters and heard reports on progress in implementing the Platform’s work programme.

In the afternoon, delegates attended a formal opening ceremony, followed by a plenary discussion on: the thematic assessment on pollinators, pollination and food production; the methodological assessment on scenarios and modeling; capacity building; indigenous and local knowledge (ILK); and the scoping report for a global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services. 

In the evening, delegates were invited to attend a reception hosted by the Government of Malaysia.

IPBES-4 delegates met in plenary during the morning and early afternoon for an initial exchange of views on scoping reports for: a global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services; a methodological assessment on the diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits; a thematic assessment on invasive alien species (IAS); and a thematic assessment on the sustainable use of biodiversity. Delegates also took note of, and provided initial comments on, the following agenda items: tools for policy support; the 2016-2017 budget; nomination of bureau members; rules of procedure; procedures for review of the Platform; observers; and communications, stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships. IPBES-4 Chair Zakri then established two contact groups that met in the afternoon and in the evening to continue discussions on these items. 

Contact Group I engaged in the negotiation of the SPM for the assessment on pollination, pollinators and food production. Contact Group II discussed the scoping report for a global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

IPBES-4 delegates met in two contact groups throughout the day. Contact group I continued line-by-line negotiations of the summary for policy makers (SPM) of the thematic assessment on pollination, pollinators and food production. Contact group II addressed the scoping reports for a global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services and sustainable use, work on policy support tools and methodologies, procedures for the review of the Platform, and capacity building.

Negotiations in both contact groups continued into the night.

IPBES-4 delegates met in two contact groups throughout the day. Contact Group I finalized the negotiation of the summary for policy makers (SPM) of the assessment on pollination, pollinators and food production and began its work on indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) systems. 

Contact Group II considered a revised draft of the scoping report for a global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and started paragraph-by-paragraph negotiations of the SPM for the methodological assessment on scenarios and modeling of biodiversity and ecosystem services. 

Discussions in both contact groups continued into the night.

IPBES-4 delegates met in two contact groups in the morning, afternoon and evening and in plenary in the morning and afternoon.

Contact Group I continued deliberations on indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) systems throughout the day. Delegates approved a set of procedures for bringing ILK into the Platform’s assessments which will be added to the procedures for the development of Platform’s products. Delegates then discussed a new draft decision on knowledge foundations, including approaches to engage ILK. 

Contact Group II finalized outstanding matters on the scoping report for a Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the morning, and continued negotiating the SPM of the methodological assessment on scenarios and modelling of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the afternoon. 

A brief plenary was held in the late morning to endorse the report of the credentials committee and adopt the Summary for Policy Makers (SPM) of the Thematic Assessment on Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production. Plenary reconvened in the afternoon to consider nominations of new members of the Bureau and consider the scoping report for the Global Assessment.

IPBES-4 delegates met in two contact groups in the morning, afternoon and into the evening. Plenary convened briefly in the early afternoon to take stock of progress.

Contact Group I considered the scoping reports for a methodological assessment on diverse conceptualization of multiple values of nature and its benefits, and a thematic assessment on invasive alien species (IAS) and their control.

Contact Group II concluded the negotiation of the summary for policy makers (SPM) of the methodological assessment of scenarios and models of biodiversity and ecosystem services,  discussed proposed future work on scenarios and modelling and the review of the platform.

The Budget group met at lunch time and in the evening.

Work in all groups continued into the night.

The closing plenary of IPBES-4 convened on Sunday morning, 28 February 2016. The Co-Chairs of the two contact groups reported that they had completed their work. 

Delegates then approved the Summary for Policy Makers of the Methodological Assessment on Scenarios and Models for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and adopted other decisions on the work programme, including:  capacity-building; knowledge foundations; global, regional and subregional assessments; and the catalogue of policy tools and methodologies. They also approved decisions on global, thematic and methodological assessments and the independent review with minor changes. 

After some modifications to reflect changes in the decisions on the global and methodological assessments, delegates also approved the budget for 2016-2017.

Plenary elected Bob Watson (UK) as new Chair of IPBES, and IPBES-4 Chair Zakri gaveled the meeting to a close at 1:41pm.