First external review of the IPBES assessment of invasive alien species now live!

Dear IPBES members, observers and other interested stakeholders,

I am pleased to announce the start of the external review for the first order draft of the chapters of the IPBES thematic assessment of invasive alien species and their control (IPBES invasive alien species assessment).

The period for this first external review is from 31 August to 18 October 2020.

This assessment will assess the current status and trends of invasive alien species, their impacts, their drivers, their management, and options for policy to deal with the challenges they pose. The assessment takes into account various knowledge and value systems including local and indigenous knowledge. The assessment will be solution-oriented and will provide policymakers with flexible and pragmatic response options, including strategies for prevention and adaptive management of invasive alien species.

One of the most important phases in the IPBES assessment process is the external review by interested and qualified experts, including scientists, decision makers, practitioners and other knowledge holders. The widest-possible participation and most diverse engagement of experts in this first external review is vital to ensure the scientific quality and policy relevance of this assessment.

If you would like to participate as an expert reviewer in this external review, please follow these steps:

1. Register as user of the IPBES website (https://ipbes.net/user/register) if you have not already done so;
2. Apply to become an expert reviewer for individual chapters of the invasive alien species assessment at https://ipbes.net/user/login?destination=invasive-alien-species/FOD-review-registration (this will only work when logged in first as IPBES website user);
3. Once registered, you will immediately receive an email providing confidential access to the draft chapters and will be requested to submit your comments in English using a template that is available on the same webpage.

Thank you again for your participation and assistance in strengthening the IPBES assessments through this external review.

Yours sincerely,

Dr Anne Larigauderie | Executive Secretary
Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)