External Review Opens for IPBES Monitoring Assessment on Biodiversity and Nature’s Contributions

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has launched the external review of its methodological assessment on monitoring biodiversity and nature’s contributions to people. The review period is open from 5 November 2025 to 7 January 2026.

This assessment aims to strengthen global understanding and tracking of changes in biodiversity and ecosystem services, providing critical guidance for policymakers, researchers, and practitioners working to safeguard nature and its benefits to humanity.

Conducted under the fast-track approach, this assessment will undergo a single external review. The first draft of the chapters and the first draft of the Summary for Policymakers (SPM) are now available for review.

The external review is open to Governments and qualified experts—including scientists, decision makers, practitioners, and other knowledge holders—from all disciplines and regions. Broad participation is encouraged to ensure the scientific robustness and policy relevance of the final report.

How to Participate

Experts wishing to serve as reviewers are invited to:

• Register on the IPBES website
• Sign up to review the draft assessment here
• Upon registration, participants will receive confidential access to the draft Summary for Policymakers, chapters, and glossary.
• Submit comments in English using the provided Excel template, available on the same webpage. Completed templates must be uploaded electronically by 7 January 2026 via the IPBES website.
• For technical assistance, contact mea-ipbes@un.org

Online Dialogues

To support engagement during the review period, IPBES will host online dialogues with national focal points and stakeholders, including practitioners:

National focal points

• Session 1: 3 December 2025, 12:00–14:00 CET (English–French, Arabic, Russian interpretation)
• Session 2: 4 December 2025, 00:00–02:00 CET (English–Chinese, Spanish interpretation)

Stakeholders and practitioners

• 10 December 2025, 12:00–14:00 CET

Registration as a reviewer is required to participate in these dialogues. Further details will be provided upon successful registration. For technical queries, please contact tsu.capacitybuilding@ipbes.miljodir.no

The Summary for Policymakers and the full chapters of the Monitoring Assessment are expected to be considered for acceptance by the IPBES Plenary at IPBES 13, currently planned for the end of 2027.

Dr. Luthando Dziba, Executive Secretary of IPBES, expressed appreciation for the continued engagement of experts and stakeholders worldwide, emphasizing that a broad participation in this review is key to ensuring the assessment’s credibility, inclusiveness, and utility for decision-makers at all levels.