The IPBES Plenary, at its seventh session held in Paris from 29 April to 4 May 2019, adopted 'the rolling work programme of IPBES up to 2030' (set out in annex I to decision IPBES-7/1), which includes, under its first objective, a thematic assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and the determinants of transformative change and options for achieving the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity. 

This assessment is aimed at understanding and identifying factors in human society at both the individual and collective levels, including behavioural, social, cultural, economic, institutional, technical, and technological dimensions, that can be leveraged to bring about transformative change for the conservation, restoration, and wise use of biodiversity, while taking into account broader social and economic goals in the context of sustainable development. It explores the drivers of and motives behind broad societal changes and transitions to inform the design of relevant policies, communication and engagement campaigns and other actions.

The IPBES Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP) invites governments and other stakeholders to nominate relevant experts to assist with the scoping of this assessment. 

The scoping process will be conducted in line with the procedures for IPBES deliverables set out in decision IPBES-3/3, annex I (available here) and based on the initial scoping reports for the assessments set out in section III of appendix II to document IPBES/7/6 (available here).

Importantly, nominated experts should have expertise in one or more disciplines within natural science, social science, or humanities, or in indigenous and local knowledge systems, or be policy experts and practitioners. Nominations that reflect this broad range of expertise and the nomination of experts with inter- and multi-disciplinary expertise are encouraged. Expertise beyond the natural sciences is essential for this assessment.

IPBES is seeking, in particular, experts, practitioners, or policy experts with a background and experience in social sciences (e.g., behavioural economics, political ecology, development studies), in socioecological integrative approaches (e.g., global change research), in the humanities (e.g., cultural ecological research), in psychology and behavioral sciences, in biophysical sciences (e.g., conservation biology, ecology, climate science), in applied sciences and technology (e.g., forestry, agro-ecology, conservation agriculture), and environmental management.

All nominated experts (nominees) need to be available to attend the scoping meeting that is part of the scoping process, tentatively scheduled as follows: 21-24 April 2020.

All governments and relevant organizations or institutions are encouraged to submit nominations. Organizations or institutions wishing to nominate are not required to have the status of an observer to the Plenary of IPBES to make a nomination. 

Please follow this procedure for nomination:

  • Nominees are invited to fill out the application form and attach their curriculum vitae through the dedicated web portal. (To access this page, you will need to log in with your IPBES website login credentials. Nominees not yet registered on the IPBES website will need to do so by clicking on 'Create new account'.) Please note that the nomination form is in English only and applications should be submitted in English, as the assessment process will be conducted in English.
  • The nominating government or organization (nominator) indicated by the nominee will receive an email with a link to the nomination form and will be invited to approve and submit the nominations via the web portal.
  • Nominators and nominees will receive a confirmation via email once the nomination has been duly submitted.

Interested experts wishing to be nominated by a government are encouraged to contact their IPBES National Focal Point regarding any country-specific processes or deadlines, and are requested to fill out their application form by 15 October 2019.

Nominators (governments or organizations) should approve the applications and submit their nominations by 29 October 2019. Early nominations ahead of the deadline are encouraged.

Please also note the parallel call for nominations of experts to assist with the scoping of a thematic assessment of the interlinkages among biodiversity, water, food and health. 


Cover Image: The last batch of sawn wood from a peat forest in Indragiri Hulu, Riau Province, Indonesia. Deforestation for palm oil plantation. Photo by Aidenvironment, 2006. CC BY-SA 2.0.


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