The German government's offer: IPBES in Bonn An ideal location for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Biological diversity is the very basis of humankind’sexistence. It protects us from natural disasters, regulatesthe global climate and provides food, fertile soils andmedicines. It also secures work and income for countlesspeople. Thus, conserving biodiversity plays a crucial rolein ensuring sustainable development and poverty reductionthroughout the world.

This global challenge can only be dealt with effectively through international cooperation. But we must be honest with ourselves: policy alone cannot successfully tackle this immense cross-cutting task. It needs support - especially scientific support. Policy-makers canonly make the necessary decisions on the conservation of global biodiversity if they are given independent, scientifically sound and hence credible information onbiodiversity’s current status and on the future trends and threats it faces.

This is why we need a platform that brings together all stakeholders and experts, combines the broadest possible spectrum of knowledge, and offers carefully targetedadvice to those responsible for biodiversity policy. This is precisely the task envisaged for the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity andEcosystem Services (IPBES). The aim of IPBES is to help us permanently raise political and public awareness of the value of biodiversity, in order to finally halt its ongoingloss.

Germany used its presidency of the 9th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) as an opportunity to give vital momentum to effectiveinternational biodiversity conservation. I am very grateful for the confidence shown in the German government during this time. Our CBD presidency is now at anend, but conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity remains a key priority for Germany and that is why we would like to offer to host the IPBES secretariat inBonn, Germany’s United Nations city.