6-10 March 2017 | Bonn, Germany IPBES-5 convened for its final day in Bonn, Germany. After a brief stocktaking plenary in the morning, the contact groups reconvened to resume their deliberations.

Contact Group I concluded discussions on ILK based on agreement reached during informal consultations in the morning, and resolved outstanding issues in the draft decision on the review of the Platform. The group then discussed and approved draft decisions on enhanced participation of EU in IPBES Plenary sessions, and on replacing the term “benefits” with “nature’s contributions to people” in the IPBES conceptual framework.

Contact Group II discussed and approved a decision on pending assessments.

In plenary, the Co-Chairs of the contact groups reported on outcomes noting several draft decisions with sections on which agreement was pending the outcome of the budget discussions. Budget Group Chair Spencer Thomas reported that the Budget Group had yet to agree on the IPBES budget for 2017 and 2018. Chair Watson alerted delegates that closing the session without adopting a budget was unacceptable.

Delegates then adopted decisions on: capacity building; policy tools and methodologies; the enhanced participation of the EU in IPBES Plenary sessions; the scoping report for and assessment on the sustainable use of wild species; and the dates, venues and agendas of IPBES-6 and IPBES-7. Delegates also approved the decision on the development of a second work programme subject to finalization of the budget, and approved all but one section of the decision on ILK on which informal consultations continue.

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