The objective of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is to provide Governments, the private sector, and civil society with scientifically credible and independent up-to-date assessments of available knowledge to make informed decisions at the local, regional and international levels.

Global Assessment Report on biodiversity and Ecosystem Services / FACTS AND FIGURES
1. 1 million species or about 25% of assessed plant and animal species, already face extinction
2. 75% of the land surface is significantly altered (described as “negative land transformation” as opposed “land degradation”, which is attributed to steady in-place degradation e.g. overgrazing)
3. Over 1/3 of the terrestrial land surface being used for cropping or animal husbandry (agriculture)
4. The urban area has doubled in size in less than 40 years (since 1992)
5. Land degradation has reduced productivity in 23% of global terrestrial area
6. 66% of the ocean area is experiencing increasing cumulative impacts
7. 85% of wetland areas have been lost
8. Marine and terrestrial ecosystems are carbon sinks, holding an amount equivalent to 60% of global anthropogenic emissions.
9. Majority of terrestrial species will shrink even with a warming of 1.5-2 degrees
10. The abundance of native species in most of the major terrestrial biomes have declined by 20%
11. 35% of all terrestrial ecosystems that are least impacted are under the management and care of indigenous peoples and local communities

IPBES is to perform regular and timely assessments of knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services and their interlinkages at the global level. Also addressing an invitation by the Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) to prepare a global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services building, inter alia, on its own and other relevant regional, subregional and thematic assessments, as well as on national reports.

The overall scope of the assessment is to assess the status and trends with regard to biodiversity and ecosystem services, the impact of biodiversity and ecosystem services on human well-being and the effectiveness of responses, including the Strategic Plan and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets. It is anticipated that this deliverable will contribute to the process for the evaluation and renewal of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

The IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is composed of 1) a Summary for Policymakers (SPM), approved by the IPBES Plenary at its 7th session in May 2019 in Paris, France (IPBES-7); and 2) a set of six Chapters, accepted by the IPBES Plenary