Second Session of IPBES Held in Turkey

From 9-14 December 2013, the second session of the Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-2) met in Antalya, Turkey. The objective of the platform is “to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, for long-term human well-being and sustainable development”.

Within the final decision of the Platform “The Antalya Consensus” was adopted by delegates, this includes the following:

• A work programme for the period 2014-2018;
• Three task forces on capacity building, Indigenous and local knowledge systems, and knowledge and data;
• Development of a guide for the production and integration of sub-regional and regional assessments;
• Methodological assessments on: pollination and pollinators associated with food production; scenario analysis and modelling of biodiversity and ecosystem services; the conceptualisation of values of biodiversity and nature’s benefit to people; and thematic assessments on land degradation and restoration, invasive alien species, and the sustainable use and conservation of biodiversity; and
• Rules and procedures for the Platform including the nomination of future Multidisciplinary Expert Panel members.

Submission on Indigenous and Local Knowledge to IPBES

On 15 April, Natural Justice made a submission to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) on an information document entitled 'Consideration of initial elements: recognizing indigenous and local knowledge and building synergies with science'. The submission suggested community protocols as an effective tool in building synergies between traditional knowledge and science and as a framework that ensures that the approaches adopted in different sources of information used for understanding traditional knowledge is in compliance with Indigenous peoples' and communities' customary and ethical protocols. The submission focused on the following broad themes:

• To allow for the effective inclusion of community protocols in the process of building synergies with science, which includes study, documentation, and approaches and methodologies relevant to indigenous and local knowledge, specifically through the IPBES work programme;
• To ensure that the principles and protocols considered of relevance to indigenous and local knowledge adopts a holistic approach with the incorporation of relevant principles and protocols emerging from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (1992), UN Convention to Combat Desertification  (1992), and the FAO International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (2001), in addition to those already listed from the Convention on Biological Diversity; and
• To suggest changes that facilitate adequate representation of Indigenous peoples and local communities and their interests in this process.

The IPBES submission and other submissions made by Natural Justice and partners are available here.