UN nature panel to be launched in autumn

A new UN body advising governments on how to tackle biodiversity loss and protect so-called 'ecosystem services' will be officially launched in October 2011. Moreover, EurActiv says that the first plenary meeting of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) will take place during the first week of October in Nairobi, Kenya.

The new body, modeled on the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), is expected to provide world governments with ‘authoritative’ scientific information. This in turn should produce more informed decision-making to help safeguard nature and ecosystems.

Website: Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services http://www.ipbes.net/

Website: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) http://www.ipcc.ch/

European Commission: DG Environment: Policies: Nature and diversity: Biodiversity in the EU http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/index_en.htm

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