Iceland is the 149th country to have joined the InterGovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
Dr Anne Larigauderie, Executive Secretary of IPBES welcomed Iceland, on the 10th April 2025, and also said a national focal point for the country, would be updated on the IPBES soon.
IPBES assesses knowledge on biodiversity and ecosystem services globally.
A report released in Windhoek last December 2024, by the IPBES Secretariat, warned that fundamental shifts are needed in how people view and interact with the natural world, to halt biodiversity loss.
The report known as the Transformative Change Report, found that the only way to achieve global development goals, is through transformative change.
It was prepared by 100 leading experts from 42 countries, over 3 years.
Professor Karen O’ Brien, co-chairperson of the assessment, said “transformative change for a just and sustainable world is urgent, because there is a closing window of opportunity to halt and reverse biodiversity loss and to prevent triggering the potentially irreversible decline and the projected collapse of key ecosystem functions.”
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), Brazil takes the lead of the most biodiversity countries globally, due to the 20% of the planet’s freshwater in that country. As a result, it has the largest wetland, woodlands, open fields, savannahs, and the rainforest.
Indonesia has the second highest number of bird species in the world at 1,592, 781 reptiles, 270 types of amphibians, 515 different animals, 25,000 flowering plants and its archipelago, is home to rare finds, such as the Bawean Deer, Rock Island Snake-necked Turtle and Proboscis Monkey.
South Africa is the third on the list, due to its 858 bird species, 299 mammal species, 110 endemic frog species and its indigenous long-nosed Golden Mole and Riverine Rabbit.
Colombia is fourth for its 10% of global biodiversity within its borders. In addition, it is second in the world fir the most plants and amphibian species. Some 1,800 species of birds, of which 73 are endemic.
Endemic birds are the Tolima Dove, Chestnut-winged Chachalaka and Sooty -capped Puffbird.