“The IPBES Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species is the result of four years of work by 85 leading experts from the natural and social sciences, and holders of indigenous and local knowledge, as well as 200 contributing authors, drawing on more than 6,200 sources. It was specifically requested by, among others, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). It also has immediate relevance to the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity to forge a new global biodiversity framework for the next decade.
The assessment considers various approaches to the enhancement of the sustainability of the use of wild species and to strengthen related practices, measures, capacities and tools for their conservation through such use, taking into account the multiple worldviews and knowledge systems that operate within different social-ecological systems. The assessment highlights drivers of sustainability and compares, among other, the effectiveness of policy options to better govern the sustainable use of wild species.
The IPBES Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species is composed of 1) a Summary for Policymakers (SPM), approved by the IPBES Plenary at its 9th session in July 2022 in Bonn, Germany (IPBES-9); and 2) a set of six Chapters, accepted by the IPBES Plenary, as well as a glossary. The chapters are currently under revision after the ninth session to ensure consistency with the summary for policymakers as approved.”
A key message is:
Sustainable use of wild species is critical for people and nature
“Billions of people in all regions of the world rely on and benefit from the use of wild species for food, medicine, energy, income and many other purposes. Sustainable use of wild species is central to the identity and existence of many indigenous peoples and local communities. Ensuring sustainability of the use of wild species, including by promoting sustainable use and halting overexploitation, is critical to reverse the global trend in biodiversity decline.”
Assessment report on the sustainable use of wild species | IPBES secretariat