Abstract:

Promoted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) was established as the first communication platform between scientists and decision makers in the field of biodiversity conservation for improving global biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services. As the first work programme of IPBES, the programme for the period 2014-2018 reached a consensus on the platform at the 2nd Plenary Session (held December 2013 in Antalya, Turkey). In this paper, we introduce the framework and its 4 objectives, including assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services around the world using a multiple-scale method, series thematic and methods assessments, capacity building, and identification of deliverables. We also present a detailed description of the elements, deliverables and time arrangements of the work programme’s objectives according to the material discussed during the platform’s 3rd Plenary Session (held January 2015 in Bonn, Germany). In 2014 (one year into the program), the thematic assessment of pollination and food production and the policy support tools for scenario analysis were launched and the scope of synthesis assessment of regions and thematic assessment of land degradation and restoration were defined. As the first intergovernmental, interdisciplinary, cross-domain, and multi-convention platform in the field of biodiversity, IPBES will become an international dialogue and platform in the field of biodiversity, and also a platform for national benefit maximization. It requires the standardization and integration of China's relevant knowledge and information system. To work with the programme, it is suggested China extensively participate in the implementation to strengthen capacity, including enhancing international communicational and internal cooperation, improving basic discipline construction, and encouraging experts and public participation.

Key words: IPBES, biodiversity, ecosystem services, assessment, deliverables