CABES Project Team engages in IPBES-12 Plenary, Stakeholder Day

Members of the CABES project team, including the CABES–HoAREC&N–AAU team, are participating in the 12th Plenary Session of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES-12) and the associated Stakeholder Days, taking place from 2 to 8 February 2026 in Manchester, United Kingdom. The CABES project, which was initiated to support IPBES work through capacity building in Africa, aims to strengthen African engagement in global biodiversity and ecosystem services assessments and policy processes as well as uptake of IPBES assessment products into national policy frameworks. Participation in the IPBES-12 Plenary and Stakeholder Days provides an important opportunity for the CABES team to engage in ongoing IPBES discussions, exchange knowledge with international experts and stakeholders, and strengthen collaboration with partners. Through this engagement, the CABES project seeks to enhance its contribution to advancing IPBES goals and supporting evidence-based biodiversity policy and decision-making in Africa.

The stakeholders’ day of IPBES held on February 2, 2026 was an important event before the IPBES Plenary sessions. It brought stakeholders together and served as a bridge for government representatives, non-governmental organizations, scientists, Indigenous Peoples, local communities, and the private sectors. The twelfth session of the IPBES Plenary opened on 3 February 2026, with a focus on the approval of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment Report drafted by the authors and the Technical Support Unit (TSU). During the opening session, representatives of the UK government, IPBES, UNEP, UNESCO, FAO, and UNDP addressed the Plenary, highlighting the importance of the assessment and acknowledging the contributions of key initiatives, such as the CABES project, to the achievement of IPBES objectives. The CABES project is making a significant contribution to advancing IPBES goals in Africa by strengthening science–policy–practice linkages on biodiversity and ecosystem services.

In addition to meeting stakeholders in person, CABES team members took advantage of the plenary to stay informed on the latest developments from the IPBES to network with potenational partners and donors. The session provided updates on emerging assessment works, recent scientific findings, and evolving methodologies, as well as policy guidance that can be applied to ongoing project activities.