PBES needs your expertise to review the Spatial Planning & Ecological Connectivity Assessment, which will guide the implementation of the UN’s Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. This assessment will be presented at IPBES 13 in 2027 and will shape how terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments are planned and managed. Your input will have a direct impact on global policy.

What expertise are we looking for?

Diverse disciplines, from geography, ecology, spatial and urban planning, to architecture, law, political science and economics. Scope of the assessment is terrestrial, inland water as well as marine ecosystems. Reviewers from government, industry, civil society and indigenous and local knowledge are also encouraged to apply!

What we’re asking

Review any portion—a full chapter, section, or even specific paragraphs. All contributions matter.
Review period: 1 June 2026 – 26 July 2026 23.59 pm (CET)

Why this matters

This assessment analyses biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and ecological connectivity across terrestrial, freshwater and marine systems, focusing on methods, indicators, models and scenarios for the protection, restoration and sustainable use of nature across all spatial and temporal scales. Whether you work on protected areas, migration routes, climate adaptation, spatial modelling, or the nexus between biodiversity, food and water — your expertise directly contributes to this global synthesis report.

How to participate

1. Register for IPBES account
2. Register as reviewer (opens on June 1st)
3. Access draft documents (you’ll receive confidential access via email)
4. Submit comments using the Excel template by 26 July 2026

We would appreciate it if you let us know, when you plan to participate as reviewer. As PBES NL, we will coordinate the review from Dutch experts, to ensure comprehensive coverage of the assessment.
We can help with difficulties you might encounter in the registering and/or review process.
PBES NL will organize an information session with all Dutch reviewers on mid-June (probably Wednesday 24^th in Utrecht (more information to follow). During the session we will explain how IPBES and their reviews work and coordinate the reviewing so we can cover as much as possible of the assessment.

Chapter overview

Summary for Policymakers (SPM): Presents key messages and policy options for approval by the IPBES Plenary, i.e. all governments involved in IPBES. The SPM ensures alignment between scientific findings and actionable recommendations for decision-makers.

Ch. 1 – Setting the scene: Introduces how the assessment links to the IPBES conceptual framework and defines biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and ecological connectivity, explains their importance for a sustainable future.

Ch. 2 – Implementing target 1 of the Kunming-Montreal GBF: Examines how biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning — including urban planning — can conserve nature and reduce trade-offs between land and sea use across sectors and scales.

Ch. 3 – Restoration and protected areas (targets 2 & 3): Assesses methods and priorities for identifying areas for restoration and conservation, including protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures, with attention to ecological connectivity and sustainable livelihoods.

Ch. 4 – Maintaining, restoring and enhancing ecological connectivity: Assesses the role of ecological connectivity — both structural and functional — in ecosystem functioning, species survival and genetic diversity, and reviews available policy tools and indicators for safeguarding corridors and ecological networks.

Ch. 5 – Spatial planning for the future: Scenarios to assess synergies and trade-offs in the biodiversity-food-water-health-climate-energy nexus, exploring how spatial planning can improve outcomes across terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments.

Ch. 6 – Creating an enabling environment: Assesses the governance frameworks, policy tools, financing mechanisms and capacity needs required to implement integrated biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and ecological connectivity, with particular attention to developing countries.

Need more information before you decide to review? Have a look at the Full scoping report for this assessment.

Important Review guidelines

Critical confidentiality requirement: All draft documents are strictly embargoed. You may not cite, quote, share, or publish findings from these drafts. The assessment is still under scientific review—conclusions may be revised or refuted. This embargo protects the integrity of both the scientific and policy processes leading to IPBES 13 in 2027.

What to focus on:

• Be specific and detailed. General comments like “this approach isn’t right” are difficult to act on. Instead, pinpoint exactly what needs attention: “Line 15 on page 23 states X, but this conflicts with Y” or “Section 3.2 is missing reference to Z methodology.” See also tab “2. Example” in the Excel file that is provided by IPBES.
• One targeted comment is valuable. You don’t need to review everything—even feedback on a single line can significantly improve the assessment.
• Include literature references. Authors are experts but cannot know everything. Suggest specific citations to strengthen the evidence base, especially for emerging methods, underrepresented regions, or Indigenous and local knowledge systems.
• Review only where you have expertise. Your specialized knowledge in specific taxonomic groups, ecosystems, monitoring methods, or regions is exactly what’s needed.

What to skip:

• Style and spelling. Grammar, punctuation, and formatting will be addressed in later stages. Some sentences may receive dozens of comments—that comma doesn’t matter yet.
• Broad, overarching critiques. While potentially valid, general statements like “this framework has limitations” are hard to operationalize. Save comprehensive analyses for other venues; here, precision drives improvement.

Questions? Contact pbesnl@biodiversity.org or mea-ipbes@un.org (technical issues)