IPBES, 2019. Summary for policymakers of the global assessment report on biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science‐Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Abstract

English only Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Sixth session Medellin, Colombia, 18-24 March 2018 Agenda item 6 (b) Regional and subregional assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services: regional and subregional assessment for the Americas Chapters of the regional and subregional assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services for the Americas Note by the secretariat 1. In paragraph 2 of section III of decision IPBES-3/1, the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) approved the undertaking of four regional and subregional assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services for Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe and Central Asia (hereinafter referred to as regional assessments) in accordance with the procedures for the preparation of the Platform's deliverables set out in annex I to decision IPBES-3/3, the generic scoping report for the regional assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services set out in annex III to decision IPBES-3/1, and the scoping reports for each of the four regional assessments (decision IPBES-3/1, annexes IV-VII). 2. In response to decision IPBES-3/1, a set of six chapters (IPBES/6/INF/3-6), together with a summary for policymakers (IPBES/6/4-7), were produced for each of the regional assessments by an expert group, in accordance with the procedures for the preparation of the Platform's deliverables, for consideration by the Plenary at its sixth session. 3. In paragraph 5 of section IV of decision IPBES-6/1, the Plenary approved the summary for policymakers of the regional assessment for the Americas (IPBES/6/15/Add.2) and accepted the chapters of the assessment, on the understanding that the chapters would be revised following the sixth session as document IPBES/6/INF/4/Rev.1 to correct factual errors and to ensure consistency with the summary for policymakers as approved. The annex to the present note, which is presented without formal editing, sets out the final set of chapters of the assessment for the Americas including their executive summaries. 4. A laid-out version of the final regional assessment report of biodiversity and ecosystem services for the Americas (including a foreword, statements from key partners, acknowledgements, a preface, the summary for policymakers, the revised chapters and annexes setting out a glossary and lists of acronyms, authors, review editors and expert reviewers) will be made available on the website of the Platform prior to the seventh session of the Plenary. * Reissued for technical reasons on 24 September 2018. Editors : E. S. Brondizio Settele, J. Díaz, S. Ngo, H. T.