Description of Impact(s) (English Only) At the invitation of Irène Kälin, President of the National Council, the Swiss Academies of Sciences (a+) will hold dialogues directly with Swiss parliamentarians to brief them on the latest results of research on climate and biodiversity from IPCC and IPBES. The reports presented in detail at the Global Change Day on 12 April 2022, with the dialogue with parliamentarians set for 2 May 2022. Following publication by IPBES in July 2022 of the new Values Assessment and Sustainable Use Assessment, information sessions will also be planned. The President of the National Council will also organize a discussion at the Federal Palace.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) At the invitation of Irène Kälin, President of the National Council, the Swiss Academies of Sciences (a+) will hold dialogues directly with Swiss parliamentarians to brief them on the latest results of research on climate and biodiversity from IPCC and IPBES. The reports presented in detail at the Global Change Day on 12 April 2022, with the dialogue with parliamentarians set for 2 May 2022. Following publication by IPBES in July 2022 of the new Values Assessment and Sustainable Use Assessment, information sessions will also be planned. The President of the National Council will also organize a discussion at the Federal Palace.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) At the invitation of Irène Kälin, President of the National Council, the Swiss Academies of Sciences (a+) will hold dialogues directly with Swiss parliamentarians to brief them on the latest results of research on climate and biodiversity from IPCC and IPBES. The reports presented in detail at the Global Change Day on 12 April 2022, with the dialogue with parliamentarians set for 2 May 2022. Following publication by IPBES in July 2022 of the new Values Assessment and Sustainable Use Assessment, information sessions will also be planned. The President of the National Council will also organize a discussion at the Federal Palace.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) At the invitation of Irène Kälin, President of the National Council, the Swiss Academies of Sciences (a+) will hold dialogues directly with Swiss parliamentarians to brief them on the latest results of research on climate and biodiversity from IPCC and IPBES. The reports presented in detail at the Global Change Day on 12 April 2022, with the dialogue with parliamentarians set for 2 May 2022. Following publication by IPBES in July 2022 of the new Values Assessment and Sustainable Use Assessment, information sessions will also be planned. The President of the National Council will also organize a discussion at the Federal Palace.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The manifestations of biodiversity crisis, such as the decline of pollinator populations and land degradation, indicate the approaching of a critical tipping point for humanity. Biodiversity loss is reducing nature’s contributions to humanity, strongly impacting rural communities and countries dependent on agricultural production. Africa is particularly vulnerable to land degradation, with two-thirds of its land surface estimated to be already degraded to some degree, affecting at least 65 % of the entire African population.

The Francophone Africa Regional Trialogue was initially planned to bring together representatives from seven sub-Saharan African countries: Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Togo. It has been postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and representatives from these seven countries met online during the lockdown period for the Virtual Trialogue for the Community of Practice on 2–25 November 2020.

In 2022, when the health emergency subsided, planning resumed for the physical Trialogue events, as the added value of face-to-face interaction is difficult to match online. However, in some parts of the world, travel restrictions persist. A decision was therefore made to proceed with the application of the regional Trialogue methodology in one country, Cameroon, at least for this year. The next Trialogue is planned to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 25–27 October 2022. The Cameroon Trialogue will replace the Francophone Africa Trialogue and will focus on discussing issues related to land degradation and restoration, pollinators and the sustainable use of wild species. More information may be found here and in the attached concept note.

From 2023, subject to local circumstances, BES-Net will shift fully back to the original regional Trialogue modality and continuously promote awareness-creation and uptake of the IPBES assessments at the national and wider levels.

The reference information for the Trialogue event is compiled in the Background Document, which focuses on the status of biodiversity loss in general and specifically on land degradation and pollination in the seven target countries. The document was developed based on the IPBES Assessment findings, as well as the results of the survey carried out in the form of questionnaires or direct interviews with resource persons representing the participating countries.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The manifestations of biodiversity crisis, such as the decline of pollinator populations and land degradation, indicate the approaching of a critical tipping point for humanity. Biodiversity loss is reducing nature’s contributions to humanity, strongly impacting rural communities and countries dependent on agricultural production. Africa is particularly vulnerable to land degradation, with two-thirds of its land surface estimated to be already degraded to some degree, affecting at least 65 % of the entire African population.

The Francophone Africa Regional Trialogue was initially planned to bring together representatives from seven sub-Saharan African countries: Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Togo. It has been postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and representatives from these seven countries met online during the lockdown period for the Virtual Trialogue for the Community of Practice on 2–25 November 2020.

In 2022, when the health emergency subsided, planning resumed for the physical Trialogue events, as the added value of face-to-face interaction is difficult to match online. However, in some parts of the world, travel restrictions persist. A decision was therefore made to proceed with the application of the regional Trialogue methodology in one country, Cameroon, at least for this year. The next Trialogue is planned to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 25–27 October 2022. The Cameroon Trialogue will replace the Francophone Africa Trialogue and will focus on discussing issues related to land degradation and restoration, pollinators and the sustainable use of wild species. More information may be found here and in the attached concept note.

From 2023, subject to local circumstances, BES-Net will shift fully back to the original regional Trialogue modality and continuously promote awareness-creation and uptake of the IPBES assessments at the national and wider levels.

The reference information for the Trialogue event is compiled in the Background Document, which focuses on the status of biodiversity loss in general and specifically on land degradation and pollination in the seven target countries. The document was developed based on the IPBES Assessment findings, as well as the results of the survey carried out in the form of questionnaires or direct interviews with resource persons representing the participating countries.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The manifestations of biodiversity crisis, such as the decline of pollinator populations and land degradation, indicate the approaching of a critical tipping point for humanity. Biodiversity loss is reducing nature’s contributions to humanity, strongly impacting rural communities and countries dependent on agricultural production. Africa is particularly vulnerable to land degradation, with two-thirds of its land surface estimated to be already degraded to some degree, affecting at least 65 % of the entire African population.

The Francophone Africa Regional Trialogue was initially planned to bring together representatives from seven sub-Saharan African countries: Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Togo. It has been postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and representatives from these seven countries met online during the lockdown period for the Virtual Trialogue for the Community of Practice on 2–25 November 2020.

In 2022, when the health emergency subsided, planning resumed for the physical Trialogue events, as the added value of face-to-face interaction is difficult to match online. However, in some parts of the world, travel restrictions persist. A decision was therefore made to proceed with the application of the regional Trialogue methodology in one country, Cameroon, at least for this year. The next Trialogue is planned to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 25–27 October 2022. The Cameroon Trialogue will replace the Francophone Africa Trialogue and will focus on discussing issues related to land degradation and restoration, pollinators and the sustainable use of wild species. More information may be found here and in the attached concept note.

From 2023, subject to local circumstances, BES-Net will shift fully back to the original regional Trialogue modality and continuously promote awareness-creation and uptake of the IPBES assessments at the national and wider levels.

The reference information for the Trialogue event is compiled in the Background Document, which focuses on the status of biodiversity loss in general and specifically on land degradation and pollination in the seven target countries. The document was developed based on the IPBES Assessment findings, as well as the results of the survey carried out in the form of questionnaires or direct interviews with resource persons representing the participating countries.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The manifestations of biodiversity crisis, such as the decline of pollinator populations and land degradation, indicate the approaching of a critical tipping point for humanity. Biodiversity loss is reducing nature’s contributions to humanity, strongly impacting rural communities and countries dependent on agricultural production. Africa is particularly vulnerable to land degradation, with two-thirds of its land surface estimated to be already degraded to some degree, affecting at least 65 % of the entire African population.

The Francophone Africa Regional Trialogue was initially planned to bring together representatives from seven sub-Saharan African countries: Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Senegal and Togo. It has been postponed several times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and representatives from these seven countries met online during the lockdown period for the Virtual Trialogue for the Community of Practice on 2–25 November 2020.

In 2022, when the health emergency subsided, planning resumed for the physical Trialogue events, as the added value of face-to-face interaction is difficult to match online. However, in some parts of the world, travel restrictions persist. A decision was therefore made to proceed with the application of the regional Trialogue methodology in one country, Cameroon, at least for this year. The next Trialogue is planned to take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 25–27 October 2022. The Cameroon Trialogue will replace the Francophone Africa Trialogue and will focus on discussing issues related to land degradation and restoration, pollinators and the sustainable use of wild species. More information may be found here and in the attached concept note.

From 2023, subject to local circumstances, BES-Net will shift fully back to the original regional Trialogue modality and continuously promote awareness-creation and uptake of the IPBES assessments at the national and wider levels.

The reference information for the Trialogue event is compiled in the Background Document, which focuses on the status of biodiversity loss in general and specifically on land degradation and pollination in the seven target countries. The document was developed based on the IPBES Assessment findings, as well as the results of the survey carried out in the form of questionnaires or direct interviews with resource persons representing the participating countries.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Ten Finnish companies piloted the Science Based Targets Network's (SBTN) new guidelines for nature goals in 2022 as part of a pilot program led by FIBS and Sitra. The Nature targets developed by SBTN take into account lessons from the Global Assessment on the drivers of biodiversity loss and the Scenarios and Models Assessment Report which helped companies identify the various connections to biodiversity loss along their value chain. The report from the pilot programme offers insight on the adoption of SBTN Nature target guidelines by the private sector.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Ten Finnish companies piloted the Science Based Targets Network's (SBTN) new guidelines for nature goals in 2022 as part of a pilot program led by FIBS and Sitra. The Nature targets developed by SBTN take into account lessons from the Global Assessment on the drivers of biodiversity loss and the Scenarios and Models Assessment Report which helped companies identify the various connections to biodiversity loss along their value chain. The report from the pilot programme offers insight on the adoption of SBTN Nature target guidelines by the private sector.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Researchers at the Stockholm Resilience Centre have presented ways to help city planners identify options for integrating nature within urban areas. Published in the May 2022 edition of Environmental Science & Policy, the framework led by researchers Jan Kuiper and Thomas Elmqvist responds to the development of new scenarios under the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services that focus on positive perspectives on how people and nature can prosper together. These perspectives formed the basis for the Nature Futures Framework (NFF).

Given that the NFF is not primarily looking at urban contexts, to fill this gap, the researchers colleagues developed the Urban Nature Futures Framework (UNFF) which presents three approaches to integrating nature in cities: (1) Nature for Nature Future: natural areas and biodiversity are at the core of any urban development, (2) Nature for Society Future: human needs form the basis for what ecosystem services should be prioritised, and (3) Nature as Culture Futures: how nature can help create stronger social communities, a sense of place and stewardship of nature.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Researchers at the Stockholm Resilience Centre have presented ways to help city planners identify options for integrating nature within urban areas. Published in the May 2022 edition of Environmental Science & Policy, the framework led by researchers Jan Kuiper and Thomas Elmqvist responds to the development of new scenarios under the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services that focus on positive perspectives on how people and nature can prosper together. These perspectives formed the basis for the Nature Futures Framework (NFF).

Given that the NFF is not primarily looking at urban contexts, to fill this gap, the researchers colleagues developed the Urban Nature Futures Framework (UNFF) which presents three approaches to integrating nature in cities: (1) Nature for Nature Future: natural areas and biodiversity are at the core of any urban development, (2) Nature for Society Future: human needs form the basis for what ecosystem services should be prioritised, and (3) Nature as Culture Futures: how nature can help create stronger social communities, a sense of place and stewardship of nature.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Researchers at the Stockholm Resilience Centre have presented ways to help city planners identify options for integrating nature within urban areas. Published in the May 2022 edition of Environmental Science & Policy, the framework led by researchers Jan Kuiper and Thomas Elmqvist responds to the development of new scenarios under the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services that focus on positive perspectives on how people and nature can prosper together. These perspectives formed the basis for the Nature Futures Framework (NFF).

Given that the NFF is not primarily looking at urban contexts, to fill this gap, the researchers colleagues developed the Urban Nature Futures Framework (UNFF) which presents three approaches to integrating nature in cities: (1) Nature for Nature Future: natural areas and biodiversity are at the core of any urban development, (2) Nature for Society Future: human needs form the basis for what ecosystem services should be prioritised, and (3) Nature as Culture Futures: how nature can help create stronger social communities, a sense of place and stewardship of nature.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) A new research study reports on findings from a first attempt at using the IPBES framework as a structured instrument for gathering stakeholder opinions during a participatory evaluation of nature, humans, and sustainability on Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. This assessment was organized in the form of a participatory three-day workshop with five different groups of stakeholders – community members, resource users, conservationists, researchers, and ‘other’ (mostly tourism operators). The IPBES framework enabled the effective collection and comparison of nuanced information from a diverse group of participants

Using the IPBES framework, researchers assembled information on the state of and trends in species diversity, Nature's Contributions to People (NCP), and on the main drivers of changes in species and habitats. Additionally, researchers gathered perspectives on the needs and opportunities for the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources from the individual to the international level.

Most respondents noted decreases in the majority of Kilimanjaro's ecosystems and species as well as in nature's capacity to provide services essential to human well-being, like as food, water, and livelihoods. They also anticipated that these decreases would persist. The majority of participants concurred that land-use change was a significant factor behind these decreases. Participants identified greater education and awareness as crucial steps to reversing these trends in order to prevent a deterioration in Nature and its capacity to promote human welfare.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Organized in the form of a participatory workshop with five different groups of stakeholders, researchers have applied the IPBES conceptual framework in assessment of local perspectives on nature, people and sustainability at Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Researchers assembled information on the state of and trends in species diversity, Nature's Contributions to People (NCP), and on the main drivers of changes in species and habitats. Additionally, gathering perspectives on the needs and opportunities for the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources from the individual to the international level.

According to the researchers, "the application of the IPBES framework enabled the comparability needed for developing narratives of stakeholder visions that can help identify new pathways towards sustainability and guide planning while retaining the context-based nuances that remain unresolved with non-participatory methods." Based on this experience, researchers concluded that "the IPBES framework can be effectively adopted for the mobilization of non-academic knowledge on the relationship between nature and people and that it represents a useful methodological tool to scale up the participatory assessments of local perspectives on social–ecological systems."

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Organized in the form of a participatory workshop with five different groups of stakeholders, researchers have applied the IPBES conceptual framework in assessment of local perspectives on nature, people and sustainability at Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Researchers assembled information on the state of and trends in species diversity, Nature's Contributions to People (NCP), and on the main drivers of changes in species and habitats. Additionally, gathering perspectives on the needs and opportunities for the sustainable management and conservation of natural resources from the individual to the international level.

According to the researchers, "the application of the IPBES framework enabled the comparability needed for developing narratives of stakeholder visions that can help identify new pathways towards sustainability and guide planning while retaining the context-based nuances that remain unresolved with non-participatory methods." Based on this experience, researchers concluded that "the IPBES framework can be effectively adopted for the mobilization of non-academic knowledge on the relationship between nature and people and that it represents a useful methodological tool to scale up the participatory assessments of local perspectives on social–ecological systems."

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The BES-Net team convened a virtual workshop on 23 February 2022 focusing on the implementation of tangible biodiversity solutions on the ground. The event brought together more than 30 participants from Kazakhstan, Trinidad and Tobago, Nigeria, and Kenya representing science, policy and practice communities that BES-Net works closely with. These four countries were the first to receive the BES Solution Fund, which acts as a catalyst to implement tangible, on-the-ground biodiversity solutions with close reference to the latest evidence produced by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The workshop provided participants with a greater understanding of engaging with diverse stakeholders, delving into innovative ideas and applying the Trialogue approach to enhance interaction among science, policy and practice communities.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The information mission of the Foreign Affairs Commitee of the French Parliament, set up in October 2019, tabled its Information Report on the Protection of Endangered Species, drawing extensively on IPBES published research, especially the IPBES Global Assessment Report.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The information mission of the Foreign Affairs Commitee of the French Parliament, set up in October 2019, tabled its Information Report on the Protection of Endangered Species, drawing extensively on IPBES published research, especially the IPBES Global Assessment Report.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The information mission of the Foreign Affairs Commitee of the French Parliament, set up in October 2019, tabled its Information Report on the Protection of Endangered Species, drawing extensively on IPBES published research, especially the IPBES Global Assessment Report.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) The information mission of the Foreign Affairs Commitee of the French Parliament, set up in October 2019, tabled its Information Report on the Protection of Endangered Species, drawing extensively on IPBES published research, especially the IPBES Global Assessment Report.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Viet Nam’s diverse and vital ecosystems are slowly being pushed to the brink for socioeconomic development. At the launch of Viet Nam’s national ecosystem assessment in early 2022, experts emphasized the urgent need to reconcile biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection across all economic and social development policies to ensure a sustainable future for Viet Nam.

The assessment, which began in 2018, is the first of its kind in Viet Nam, establishing a sound knowledge and evidence base on biodiversity, building on the global assessment undertaken by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and IPBES assessment methodology. The assessment helps connect scientists to practitioners and policymakers in the country and will play a critical role in informing policymaking.

The findings from the assessment are currently being used for the formulation of national policies such as the National Strategy on Environment Protection (to 2030 and a vision to 2050) and the National Strategy on Biodiversity Conservation (2021–2030). They are also contributing to Viet Nam’s sixth national report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The assessment findings will be shared with different stakeholders, mobilizing support and action to translate its recommendations into policy and practice. To this end, Viet Nam is also one of the first countries to receive the BES Solution Fund, BES-Net’s catalytic fund for implementing tangible, evidence-based, on-the-ground biodiversity solutions. This support will go towards building visibility for the assessment and promoting key findings in decision-making.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Viet Nam’s diverse and vital ecosystems are slowly being pushed to the brink for socioeconomic development. At the launch of Viet Nam’s national ecosystem assessment in early 2022, experts emphasized the urgent need to reconcile biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection across all economic and social development policies to ensure a sustainable future for Viet Nam.

The assessment, which began in 2018, is the first of its kind in Viet Nam, establishing a sound knowledge and evidence base on biodiversity, building on the global assessment undertaken by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and IPBES assessment methodology. The assessment helps connect scientists to practitioners and policymakers in the country and will play a critical role in informing policymaking.

The findings from the assessment are currently being used for the formulation of national policies such as the National Strategy on Environment Protection (to 2030 and a vision to 2050) and the National Strategy on Biodiversity Conservation (2021–2030). They are also contributing to Viet Nam’s sixth national report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The assessment findings will be shared with different stakeholders, mobilizing support and action to translate its recommendations into policy and practice. To this end, Viet Nam is also one of the first countries to receive the BES Solution Fund, BES-Net’s catalytic fund for implementing tangible, evidence-based, on-the-ground biodiversity solutions. This support will go towards building visibility for the assessment and promoting key findings in decision-making.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Viet Nam’s diverse and vital ecosystems are slowly being pushed to the brink for socioeconomic development. At the launch of Viet Nam’s national ecosystem assessment in early 2022, experts emphasized the urgent need to reconcile biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection across all economic and social development policies to ensure a sustainable future for Viet Nam.

The assessment, which began in 2018, is the first of its kind in Viet Nam, establishing a sound knowledge and evidence base on biodiversity, building on the global assessment undertaken by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and IPBES assessment methodology. The assessment helps connect scientists to practitioners and policymakers in the country and will play a critical role in informing policymaking.

The findings from the assessment are currently being used for the formulation of national policies such as the National Strategy on Environment Protection (to 2030 and a vision to 2050) and the National Strategy on Biodiversity Conservation (2021–2030). They are also contributing to Viet Nam’s sixth national report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The assessment findings will be shared with different stakeholders, mobilizing support and action to translate its recommendations into policy and practice. To this end, Viet Nam is also one of the first countries to receive the BES Solution Fund, BES-Net’s catalytic fund for implementing tangible, evidence-based, on-the-ground biodiversity solutions. This support will go towards building visibility for the assessment and promoting key findings in decision-making.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Viet Nam’s diverse and vital ecosystems are slowly being pushed to the brink for socioeconomic development. At the launch of Viet Nam’s national ecosystem assessment in early 2022, experts emphasized the urgent need to reconcile biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection across all economic and social development policies to ensure a sustainable future for Viet Nam.

The assessment, which began in 2018, is the first of its kind in Viet Nam, establishing a sound knowledge and evidence base on biodiversity, building on the global assessment undertaken by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and IPBES assessment methodology. The assessment helps connect scientists to practitioners and policymakers in the country and will play a critical role in informing policymaking.

The findings from the assessment are currently being used for the formulation of national policies such as the National Strategy on Environment Protection (to 2030 and a vision to 2050) and the National Strategy on Biodiversity Conservation (2021–2030). They are also contributing to Viet Nam’s sixth national report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The assessment findings will be shared with different stakeholders, mobilizing support and action to translate its recommendations into policy and practice. To this end, Viet Nam is also one of the first countries to receive the BES Solution Fund, BES-Net’s catalytic fund for implementing tangible, evidence-based, on-the-ground biodiversity solutions. This support will go towards building visibility for the assessment and promoting key findings in decision-making.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Viet Nam’s diverse and vital ecosystems are slowly being pushed to the brink for socioeconomic development. At the launch of Viet Nam’s national ecosystem assessment in early 2022, experts emphasized the urgent need to reconcile biodiversity conservation and ecosystem protection across all economic and social development policies to ensure a sustainable future for Viet Nam.

The assessment, which began in 2018, is the first of its kind in Viet Nam, establishing a sound knowledge and evidence base on biodiversity, building on the global assessment undertaken by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services and IPBES assessment methodology. The assessment helps connect scientists to practitioners and policymakers in the country and will play a critical role in informing policymaking.

The findings from the assessment are currently being used for the formulation of national policies such as the National Strategy on Environment Protection (to 2030 and a vision to 2050) and the National Strategy on Biodiversity Conservation (2021–2030). They are also contributing to Viet Nam’s sixth national report to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.

The assessment findings will be shared with different stakeholders, mobilizing support and action to translate its recommendations into policy and practice. To this end, Viet Nam is also one of the first countries to receive the BES Solution Fund, BES-Net’s catalytic fund for implementing tangible, evidence-based, on-the-ground biodiversity solutions. This support will go towards building visibility for the assessment and promoting key findings in decision-making.

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) 50 congressmen and congresswomen of the United States House of Representatives and 350 state lawmakers from around the U.S. sent a letter to President Joe Biden encouraging the establishment of a National Biodiversity Strategy "to protect and restore nature and secure [the United States'] rich biodiversity for generations to come". Citing the Summary for Policymakers of the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report, the lawmakers wrote: "The global scientific consensus is that as many as one million species are at risk of extinction. Studies have shown that we are losing species and their habitats faster than ever before."

"Only through a strategic and comprehensive approach can the U.S. government help to meet the scope and scale of the biodiversity crisis and help lead the world in protecting and beginning to restore nature over the coming decade," the representatives continued.

Lawmakers urged the President to set a strategy which, as laid out in a bipartisan House Resolution, directs "federal agencies to pursue actions within existing laws and policies and identify where new ones may need to be developed to protect biodiversity," as well as addresses the "five drivers of biodiversity loss, secure and restore critical ecosystem services, promote social equity and environmental justice, and coordinate a strong national response to tackling the biodiversity crisis both at home and abroad."

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) 50 congressmen and congresswomen of the United States House of Representatives and 350 state lawmakers from around the U.S. sent a letter to President Joe Biden encouraging the establishment of a National Biodiversity Strategy "to protect and restore nature and secure [the United States'] rich biodiversity for generations to come". Citing the Summary for Policymakers of the 2019 IPBES Global Assessment Report, the lawmakers wrote: "The global scientific consensus is that as many as one million species are at risk of extinction. Studies have shown that we are losing species and their habitats faster than ever before."

"Only through a strategic and comprehensive approach can the U.S. government help to meet the scope and scale of the biodiversity crisis and help lead the world in protecting and beginning to restore nature over the coming decade," the representatives continued.

Lawmakers urged the President to set a strategy which, as laid out in a bipartisan House Resolution, directs "federal agencies to pursue actions within existing laws and policies and identify where new ones may need to be developed to protect biodiversity," as well as addresses the "five drivers of biodiversity loss, secure and restore critical ecosystem services, promote social equity and environmental justice, and coordinate a strong national response to tackling the biodiversity crisis both at home and abroad."

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Dutch asset management firm Robeco launches positioning paper on biodiversity protection through investment and engagment, citing IPBES Global Assessment evidence. The white paper is entitled ‘Robeco’s approach to biodiversity: Towards the integration of nature-related risks, opportunities and impacts in our investments’. It has been written by specialists from across Robeco’s engagement, climate and sustainable investing research teams and will form a blueprint for future policy in this arena. Robeco also announced the creation of a new partnership with the World Wide Fund for Nature Netherlands (WWF-NL) to complement existing collaborations such as the Finance for Biodiversity Pledge.

Update (21 Oct 2022): Robeco set to launch Biodiversities Equities Fund based on position paper on 31 Oct: https://www.robeco.com/en/insights/2022/10/robeco-to-launch-biodiversity-equities-fund.html

Description of Impact(s) (English Only) Cameroon’s Minister of the Environment, Nature Protection and Sustainable Development (MINEPDE), Hélé Pierre, opened a three-day workshop for the validation of the National Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (NBESA).

The NBESA team was carried out using the IPBES methodological approach to produce a draft of the report. The latter was submitted for analysis by the National Science-Policy Interface Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (PN-SPBES) during the review, evaluation and pre-validation phase

The workshop also enabled a review of the key messages of the NBESA’s Summary for Policymakers (SPM). Joséphine Eloundou, IPBES National Focal Point, also participated in the event. Cameroon is the third country in the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre’s (UNEP-WCMC) National Ecosystem Assessment Initiative to validate its national assessment.

Different components of the scoping exercise were discussed, including approaches to mapping stakeholders; identifying key policy questions on biodiversity and ecosystem services; and the benefits National Science-Policy Platforms can provide for decision-making and knowledge exchange. Cameroon shared its NEA process experience and imparted advice and suggestions to support country partners with their scoping process.