Summary for policymakers of the methodological assessment of scenarios and models of biodiversity and ecosystem services of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

The methodological assessment of scenarios and models of biodiversity and ecosystem services carried out under the auspices of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) provides guidance for the use of scenarios and models for experts performing assessments within IPBES, as well as to scientists and other stakeholders and decision makers. Because the assessment focuses on methods, this report is more technical in nature than the thematic, regional and global assessments of IPBES. The assessment focuses on a critical analyses of the state-of-the-art and best practices for using scenarios and models in assessments and policy design and implementation relevant to biodiversity and ecosystem services. It proposes means for addressing gaps in data, knowledge, methods and tools relating to scenarios and models. It, finally, makes a series of recommendations for action by IPBES member States, stakeholders and the scientific community to implement and encourage those best practices in regard to the use of scenarios and models, engage in capacity-building and mobilize indigenous and local knowledge.

The chapters of this assessment and their executive summaries, are available as document IPBES/4/INF/3/Rev.1. The present document is a summary for policymakers of the information presented in these chapters. It was approved by the 4th session of the Plenary of IPBES (22-28 February 2016, Kuala Lumpur).