IPBES, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, is establishing a number of expert groups to take forward elements of the 2014-2018 work programme. In line with the agreed procedures for the preparation of the Platform’s deliverables, Governments and other relevant stakeholders are invited to nominate experts to participate in the following expert groups as follows: 

• Expert groups to scope a set of regional and sub-regional assessments
• Expert group to scope a thematic assessment of land degradation and restoration.

Further information on the procedure can be found at the <link http: www.ipbes.net news-centre11 _blank>IPBES website.

The Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), with its secretariat located in Bonn, Germany, was established in April 2012 as an independent intergovernmental body open to all member countries of the United Nations. The members are committed to building IPBES as the leading intergovernmental body for assessing the state of the planet's biodiversity, its ecosystems and the essential services they provide to society. IPBES provides a mechanism recognized by both the scientific and policy communities to synthesize, review, assess and critically evaluate relevant information and knowledge generated worldwide by governments, academia, scientific organizations, non-governmental organizations and indigenous communities.