IPBES Data and Knowledge Management Policy

The Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), in section II of its decision IPBES-2/5, established a task force on knowledge and data for the period of its first work programme, 2014‒2018. In decision IPBES-3/1, section II, the Plenary approved the data and information management plan set out in annex II to the same decision. At its seventh session, in decision IPBES-7/1, section II, the Plenary adopted the rolling work programme of the Platform up to 2030, which included among its six objectives objective 3 (a), advanced work on knowledge and data. In section IV of its decision IPBES-7/1, the Plenary recalled the establishment of the task force and extended its mandate for the implementation of objective 3 (a) of the rolling work programme of the Platform up to 2030, in accordance with the revised terms of reference set out in annex II to the same decision, and requested the Bureau and the Multidisciplinary Expert Panel, through the IPBES secretariat to constitute the task force in accordance with the terms of reference. According to its terms of reference, the task force on knowledge and data oversees and takes part in the implementation of objective 3 (a) of the rolling work programme up to 2030 and acts in accordance with relevant decisions by the Plenary and its subsidiary bodies. Its mandate includes, among other things, to guide the secretariat, including the dedicated technical support unit on data and knowledge management, in the management of the data, information and knowledge used in IPBES products, including the development of the web-based infrastructure, to ensure their long-term availability, reusability and data interoperability. The purpose of the policy is to provide overarching guidance on the management of data and knowledge to current and upcoming assessments and the work of task forces regarding IPBES products. The policy is grounded in the principles of open science, accessibility, and building knowledge through partnerships.