IPBES is an independent UN body established with the mission to strengthen the science-policy interface for "biodiversity and ecosystem services (all types of living beings, resources, their habitats and all goods, products and services provided by nature to human beings), conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development". It was established on April 21, 2012 in Panama by 94 countries, including Turkey, and today has 113 members. IPBES aims to produce policy recommendations based on multi-option scenarios according to the demands of governments and international conventions, and to develop a science-policy interface to make multi-option policy recommendations based on scientific knowledge about the status, trends, values and policy frameworks of natural assets. Furthermore, these policies and recommendations are intended to strengthen policy-making by decision-makers. The actors of IPBES are states, as well as conventions, international organizations and international non-governmental organizations accredited to the UN.
Turkey hosted the 2nd General Assembly of IPBES. The negotiations in Antalya aimed to result in the "Antalya Consensus" on administrative and financial issues such as the 2014-2018 work program and budget, regional structuring and the IPBES conceptual framework. The decisions taken for IPBES were defined as the Antalya Consensus and the "Antalya Outcomes".
Lead Researchers Dr. Arzu Olgun and Aslı Süha Günay from TÜBİTAK MAM Environment and Cleaner Production Institute (ÇTÜE) participated as members of the Turkish Delegation to the IPBES - ANTALYA 2nd General Assembly Meeting organized by the UN and the Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, General Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks between 7 - 14 December 2013. The meeting was attended by over 700 participants from 193 UN member states, excluding the Turkish delegation. Projects and Successful Studies were exhibited and experience and knowledge were shared. Within the scope of parallel meetings, a presentation was made within the scope of the "Turkey National Ballast Water Management and Risk Assessment System" project carried out jointly with TÜBİTAK MAM Environment and Cleaner Production Institute and Undersecretariat of Maritime Affairs (abolished), and poster presentations of the projects carried out by the Marine and Inland Waters Group were made.
