Reminder: First external review of the IPBES second global assessment open until 7 August 2026!

Dear IPBES members, observers and other interested stakeholders, 

With reference to notification EM/2026/18 (15 June 2026), I would like to remind you that the external review of the drafts of the chapters of the second global assessment of biodiversity and ecosystem services is closing on 7 August 2026.  

The first external review, which focuses on the first draft of the chapters of the assessment, is one of the most important phases in the IPBES assessment process and is addressed to interested and qualified experts (referred to as “the expert reviewers”). The widest possible participation and most diverse engagement of interested and qualified experts, including scientists, decision makers, practitioners and other knowledge holders from all relevant disciplines and backgrounds, is vital to ensure the scientific quality, credibility and policy relevance of the assessment.  

If you would like to participate as an expert reviewer in this external review, please follow these steps:  

1. Register as a user of the IPBES website (https://ipbes.net/user/register) if you have not already done so.  
2. Register to review the draft documents at https://www.ipbes.net/second-global-assessment/fod/registration   
3. Once registered, you will receive an email providing confidential access to the draft chapters and glossary of the assessment.  
4. Comments must be submitted in English using the Excel comment template available on the same webpage as the draft documents.  
5. Comments must be submitted electronically via the IPBES website; when you are ready to submit your comments, please upload your completed Excel template no later than 7 August 2026 using the “Add Review” button on the same page as the draft documents (you must be logged in to upload your template).  
6. If you encounter any technical issues uploading your comments template, please contact [email protected]  

Online dialogues with national focal points and stakeholders, including practitioners, will be held in the context of the external review of this assessment. 

There will be two sessions on Friday, 10 July 2026 (English only):  

• Session 1: 10.00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. CEST  
• Session 2: 4.00 p.m. – 6.00 p.m. CEST  

Please note that you need to register as a reviewer to participate in the dialogues (step 2 above). The dialogue registration link will be made available by email after a successful registration as a reviewer. Please contact the technical support unit on capacity-building for technical questions regarding the online dialogues ([email protected]).  

The Plenary will be invited to consider the summary for policymakers of the second global assessment for approval and its chapters for acceptance at IPBES 14, currently planned for the second half of 2028.  

I thank you for your continued support to IPBES.  

Yours sincerely, 

Dr. Luthando Dziba| Executive Secretary 
Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)