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)

NBSAP Revision Workshop

The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is the principal instrument for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the national level. The strategy is a mechanism to ensure that biodiversity, its sustainable use and conservation is mainstreamed into the planning and activities of all those sectors whose activities can have an impact (positive and negative) on it.

The Regional Workshop for the Caribbean Region on Updating and Revising of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) was held at the Hyatt Regency, Trinidad during the period September 5th -7th, 2012. The Caribbean Regional Preparatory Meeting to the 11th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was subsequently held on September 8th, 2012 at the same venue.

Both sessions were attended by representatives from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources; these being Ms. Candace Amoroso, Biodiversity Specialist, Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit and Mr. Julius Smith Environmental Biologist, Environmental Policy and Planning Division.

The Regional Workshop was held to address various issues that countries in the Sub-region may have or will encounter when updating their NBSAPs. Specific problematic areas garnered focus, such as target setting, stakeholder engagement and the development of country-specific plans for mobilizing financial resources for the implementation of NBSAPs. 

The COP Preparatory Meeting, coordinated by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), was the first meeting of its kind in the Sub-region, aimed at establishing a common Caribbean position on major issues to be negotiated at the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP) in Hyderabad, India during October 2012. As such, the meeting would better enable the Sub-Region to prepare for meaningful participation at the COP.

Representatives from over 11 Caribbean countries attended both sessions, along with representatives from Governments, non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs), financial organisations, research institutions and tertiary education institutes.