In 2012, IPBES was officially established with a stated mission “to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services/nature’s contributions to people for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, long-term human well-being and sustainable development.” IPBES is organized under the auspices of four United Nations agencies – UNEP, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and UNDP – and is administered by UNEP. By June 2018, its membership comprised 130 governments as well as a number of major stakeholder groups.
