What is BES-Net
The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) is a capacity sharing “network of networks” that promotes dialogue between science, policy and practice for more effective management of biodiversity and ecosystems as an integral part of long-term human well-being and sustainable development. BES-Net complements and contributes to the capacity building work of the Intergovernmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) by aligning its activities with the IPBES global assessment themes and applying the related IPBES guidance documents.
BES-Net is a consortium of the United Nations (UN) agencies, which includes the UN Development Programme (UNDP), the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and is hosted by the UNDP Global Policy Center on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification (GC-RED). It is funded by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU).
Background
The Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Network (BES-Net) project originally started in 2016. The first phase of the project (BES-Net I), runs from 2016 to 2020 with the financial support of the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and the SwedBio at Stockholm Resilience Centre. BES-Net I is led by a consortium, which includes the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as a coordinator, and the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) as an implementing partner. The Nairobi-based Global Policy Centre on Resilient Ecosystems and Desertification (GC-RED) is the UNDP focal point in charge of the management of the project.
The second phase of the project(BES-Net II) runs from 2020-2028 with the continuous financial support of IKI/BMU. The BES-Net consortium was expanded to include UNDP (coordinator), UNEP-WCMC (implementing partner) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) (implementing partner). GC-RED keeps serving as the UNDP focal point of the project.
