The UN Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has recently completed its first assessment of the status and trends of biodiversity in the Americas. The assessment considered not only biodiversity, but also ecosystem functions and services, drivers affecting biodiversity, and their relationship to good quality of life for humans. Not surprisingly, the assessment found the Americas are rich from a biodiversity standpoint, but that trends in biodiversity show a continuing decline and are expected to continue to do so through at least 2050 given current socio-economic trends. This pattern of decline is the result of many factors including: climate change, land use change, and over exploitation of ecosystems. The assessment also revealed that the ability to address these drivers and trends comprehensively is hampered by lack of data and an insufficient understanding of the quantitative and qualitative relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem services, drivers, and good quality of life.

 

Thus, the assessment reinforced the generally-known concept that biodiversity conservation is a “wicked” problem; one that is exceptionally complex and involves not only the physical and biological world, but also social, economic, and cultural aspects. The session organizers, all of whom were involved in the assessment, will present a very condensed overview of the key findings of the assessment. Attendees are invited to join in a substantive discussion of the findings and a sharing of ideas to address the gaps and limitations preventing both scientists and policy makers from addressing the relevant issues in a comprehensive manner.