External review for the 1st order drafts of the chapters of the IPBES global assessment of biodiversity is now open. Assessment can be done during 15 June - 15 August, 2017. This will be the first global snapshot of the state of the world’s biodiversity in more than a decade, since the release of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment.

The global assessment will provide decision makers with the state of knowledge regarding the planet's biodiversity, ecosystems and the benefits they provide to people, as well as the options to protect and use these natural assets more sustainably. Furthermore, the global assessment will provide vital data to assess progress against the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals.   
 
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 the global assessment.

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