In recent years considerable attention has been paid to tackling inadequacies in the interrelations between science and policy, insofar as this is possible within given mandates, budgets and decision-making processes, and to exploring options for a more effective science-policy interface, as in the case of the ad hoc international and multi-stakeholder meeting on an intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services, convened in Putrajaya, Malaysia, from 10 to 12 November 2008.

In the Putrajaya Road Map, set out in the annex to the report of the meeting (document UNEP/IPBES/1/6), participants recognized that mechanisms to improve the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services for human well-being and sustainable development should continue to be explored and called for a gap analysis to be undertaken with the aim of supporting future discussion by reviewing the strengths and weaknesses of existing science-policy interfaces and the coordination between them across all spatial scales. They requested a preliminary report to be made available at the twenty-fifth session of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environmental Forum, in February 2009. At that meeting, representatives called upon UNEP to complete the gap analysis for presentation at the next ad hoc intergovernmental and multi-stakeholder meeting, building on comments received through an open review process.

The full gap analysis builds on the preliminary version, incorporating the comments received during the review process and further drawing on scientific literature, policy reports, institutional research and consultations with experts.

In answering the mandate accorded by the Governing Council and the related discussions, the objectives of this analysis are:

• To review the institutional landscape relevant to the discussion and to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of existing science-policy interfaces and coordination between them at the national, regional and global levels of governance
• To present the findings of this review and analysis in such a manner as to help to orient future discussion on strengthening the science-policy interface on biodiversity and ecosystem services

This report was prepared with the support of the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), with substantive input and comment from a wide range of governments, IGOs, NGOs and individuals.