7th Session of the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-7)

Launch of the Global Assessment Report in Paris 

(Photo courtesy: http://enb.iisd.org/ipbes/7-plenary/)

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) ended its one-week 7^th Plenary meeting in Paris on Saturday 4^th May, 2019. The major outcome of this session was the launch of the Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. This report was prepared by about 150 scientists from 50 countries, who took about three years to research existing scientific studies and reports. The Assessment Report painted a relatively disappointing picture of human’s stewardship of nature…which appears inconsistent with many of the National Reports on Biodiversity submitted by Governments periodically, to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Two interesting summaries done by the BBC can be read here:

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48133143   and

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-48169783

The IPBES official, advanced, unedited Summary for Policy Makers can be found here:

https://www.ipbes.net/system/tdf/spm_global_unedited_advance.pdf?file=1&type=node&id=35245

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago was represented at the 7^th Plenary by Dr Rahanna Juman, Deputy Director of the Institute of Marine Affairs. Another outcome of that meeting was the election of two members to the IPBES Bureau from the Latin America and Caribbean group of countries (GRULAC). The two members are Mrs. Anna Maria Hernandez of Colombia who was also voted in as the new Chair of IPBES, and Dr Floyd Homer of Trinidad and Tobago. Dr Juman was also elected to serve as the alternate to Dr Homer.

Dr Juman (extreme left) and fellow representatives from the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC)

(Photo courtesy: Dr R Juman)

The Second Session of the Plenary of IPBES

The second session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-2) was held in Antalya, Turkey from the 9th to 14th December, 2013. 

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Dr. Floyd Homer, Biodiversity Specialist (Head of  Delegation); Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit (MEAU) and  Ms. Anastasia Gordon, Environmental Policy Analyst, Environmental Policy and Planning Division,  both from the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. Dr. Homer also serves as a member of the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP) to the IPBES.

Dr. Homer (left), hard at work at MEP table at the IPBES-2.

Ms. Gordon awaiting the start of Plenary at IPBES-2.

The purpose of IPBES-2 was mainly centred on finalising the organisational, financial, administrative, and institutional arrangements for the operationalisation of the Platform. Culminating from discussions, delegates were successful in adopting a set of decisions regarded as “the Antalya Consensus,” paying homage to the host country of the second session of the Plenary of IPBES. 

 The Antalya Consensus includes decisions on:

• fast track, thematic, regional and sub-regional assessments and activities for capacity building,
•  a conceptual framework
• rules and  procedures  for the Platform specifically the nomination of future Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP) members and procedures for the preparation of the Platform’s deliverables
• a collaborative partnership arrangement was made with four UN agencies; Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), United Nations  Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

By adopting the Antalya Consensus, member States were instrumental in ensuring that the Platform becomes fully  functional. The Consensus was also a testament of the collective ambition to tackle global biodiversity challenges.

 

 

CONABIO Training to build capacity for a NBIS for Trinidad and Tobago

In pursuit of setting up a National Biodiversity Information System (NBIS), The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources received technical assistance from the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) from Mexico, a permanent interdepartmental commission created in 1992. Among the main functions of CONABIO is the implementation and operation of the National Information System on Biodiversity (NISB) for Mexico.

Discussions initiated since April, 2012 with the Director of CONABIO at an Inter-governmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) meeting in Panama resulted in CONABIO indicating its willingness to share information with Trinidad and Tobago on their experience in setting up the biodiversity information coordination and management system.

As a follow-up to this interaction, a training session for building capacity for a NBIS in support of the Biodiversity Clearing House of Trinidad and Tobago by technical staff from CONABIO took place on 11 - 15th November, 2013 at the Public Education Centre, WASA, St. Joseph, Trinidad and Tobago.  

Key elements of the session included; sensitising relevant stakeholders on the development of the NBIS, identification of data sources in Trinidad and Tobago and training participants in the use and manipulation of the CONABIO’S NBIS (referred to as BIOTICA) for the collating and management of local biodiversity data and information.

Stakeholders involved in training included; representatives from the EPPD; Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Environmental Management Authority (EMA), Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), National Herbarium,  CABI, University of the West Indies (UWI) Zoology Museum and Life Sciences Department, Ministry of Food  Production’s Research, Horticulture and Fisheries Divisions and the Department of Agriculture, Marine Affairs and the   Environment of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

The First Session of the IPBES

The first session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-1) was held in Bonn, Germany from 21 to 26 January 2013.  Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Dr Floyd Homer, Biodiversity Specialist at the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

 At IPBES-1 the following issues (among other things) were discussed:

• Rules and procedures for the operations of the Plenary of the Platform
• Rules of procedure for meetings of the Plenary
• Initial work programme of the Platform 
•  Procedure for receiving and prioritizing requests put to the Platform 
•  Role of the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel 
•  Possible institutional arrangements for the implementation of the work programme
  

During the session there was also an election of Officers of the Bureau of the Plenary of the Platform. This resulted in two persons from each of the regions represented being elected. The Bureau members for the Latin America and Caribbean region were Dr. Leonel Sierralta (Chile) and Dr. Spencer Thomas (Grenada).

Additionally, an election for members to the 25 person Multidisciplinary Expert Panel resulted in the following representatives from the Latin American and Caribbean Region: Dr. Sandra Myrna Diaz (Argentina), Dr. Carlos Alfredo Joly (Brazil), Mr. Edgar Selvin Perez (Guatemala), Dr. Julia Carabias Lillo (Mexico) and Dr. Floyd Homer (Trinidad and Tobago).

Some of the Caribbean delegates at IPBES-1: L to R – representative from Alwin Dornelly (St Lucia), Delamine Andrew (Antigua & Barbuda), Floyd Homer (Trinidad and Tobago), Simone Lewis (Grenada) and Randolph Edmead (St Kitts & Nevis)

>> Further details on the IPBES-1 meeting can be found at:  http://www.ipbes.net/

The Birth of IPBES

IPBES stands for ‘Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ and it is expected to become the new interface between the scientific community and policy makers. 

 

The aim of the Platform is to build capacity for and strengthen the use of science in decision making within a range of policy fora, such as the global environmental conventions and development policy dialogues.  

 

The second session of the IPBES plenary meeting was held in Panama City, Panama during April 15-21, 2012. More than 90 countries were represented including four (4) CARICOM Member States. Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Dr Floyd Homer, Biodiversity Specialist at the Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment.

The meeting focused mainly on the modalities and institutional arrangements for establishing an IPBES, which led to the election of Germany as the host country for headquarters for the IPBES Secretariat. Several issues, however, remained outstanding at the end of the meeting including the budget, legal framework for the IPBES and some rules of procedures. UNEP will serve as the interim Secretariat to organize the first official IPBES meeting.

Further information on IPBES is available at http://www.ipbes.net.