Scientists and government officials are convening in Paris to finalise a key assessment report on humanity’s relationship with nature. The seventh session of the plenary of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-7) will bring together some of the world’s leading researchers in the field of biodiversity in Paris, France, this week to work on the intergovernmental Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Report which addresses past losses and future prospects for nature and humans. The report highlights “social and ecological emergency” that the world is now facing. This includes tropical tree loss at high levels, threat to food as biodiversity declines and ‘Beast of Beddau’ as new millipede find.

The Global Assessment Report, which is the first of its kind since the landmark Millennium Ecosystem Assessment published in 2005, emphasizes the importance of governments working together to develop a new global biodiversity framework. It builds on earlier IPBES assessment reports, especially the recently-released Land Degradation and Restoration Assessment and the Regional Assessment Reports for Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific and Europe and Central Asia.

The report will be discussed, finalized and considered for approval during the course of IPBES7 between 29 April and 4 May, 2019. Representatives from 132 governments are expected to attend.

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