Cardiff academic appointed to international panel on biodiversity

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has invited Professor Susan Baker to be a member of its Multidisciplinary Expert Panel.

The IPBES is an independent intergovernmental body open to all member countries of the United Nations. The Multidisciplinary Expert Panel (MEP), a group of 25 scientists appointed by the members and advising on all scientific issues, has invited Professor Baker to be a Review Editor for a regional assessment report for Europe and Central Asia.

Speaking about her appointment, Professor Baker said: “A key research interest for me is the study of sustainable development and the understanding of relationships between ecological systems and social processes, this includes how we attribute value to nature in environmental management through restoration policy and initiatives.

“The assessment report will assess the status and trends for biodiversity and ecosystem services and their interlinkages, the impact of biodiversity and ecosystem services and threats to them on human well-being and the effectiveness of responses.

“The assessments will address terrestrial, freshwater, coastal and marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. The overall objective is then to feed into and strengthen the science-policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services at regional and subregional levels.”

The current 124 members are committed to building IPBES as the leading intergovernmental body for assessing the state of the planet's biodiversity, its ecosystems and the essential services they provide to society. As part of this, a series of regional assessment reports are being produced, including a regional assessments on biodiversity and ecosystem services for Europe and Central Asia.

Further information on the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services can be found here.