INFORMATION FOR DELEGATES

Welcome to the fourth session of the plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)

22 to 28 February 2016

and to the preceding regional consultations and stakeholder days 20-21 February 2016

I. MEETING VENUE

The fourth session of the plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and the preceding Regional Consultations and Stakeholder Day will be held at Convention Centre (KLCC).

Address : Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, , 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Telephone : +603 2333 2888 Website : http://www.klccconventioncentre.com

The meeting is co-organized by the IPBES Secretariat, the Ministry of National Resources and Environment of Malaysia and the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT).

II. ACCOMMODATION

For choices of accommodation the following are suggested hotels at and around the event venue and special rates have been negotiated for delegates to the plenary. You can book your accommodation by filling in the form of a hotel of your choice.

1. Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (www.kualalumpur.grand.hyatt.com) | Link to hotel form

2. Traders Hotel Kuala Lumpur (www.shangri-la.com/kualalumpur/traders) | Link to hotel form

3. Impiana KLCC Hotel (www.kualalumpurhotels.impiana.com.my) | Link to hotel form

4. Novotel Hotel (http://www.novotelklcitycentre.com/) | Link to hotel form

III. GETTING TO KUALA LUMPUR

The city of Kuala Lumpur is serviced by the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Kuala Lumpur city center is about 43 km from the airport. Delegates arriving at Kuala Lumpur International Airport can reach Kuala Lumpur city center either by:

1. Airport Taxi Taxis and limousines are readily available for hire from KLIA terminal to Kuala Lumpur city center. Participants should purchase a pre-paid coupon at the taxi/limousine counter situated at the Arrival Hall before proceeding to the taxi stand.

Rate Day (MYR) Midnight (MYR)

Budget taxi (Proton Waja) 85 115

Premier () 110 150

MPV / Family Van 200 300

2 2. KLIA Express The train service known as KLIA Express is available every 20 minutes from KLIA to Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station (KL Sentral) for MYR 55 (one way) or MYR 100 (return). Information on the train service can be obtained from the information desk located at the KLIA terminal or from the following web site: http://www.kliaekspres.com/plan-buy/schedule/. A tram, bus or taxi will be needed from KL Sentral to the meeting venue. This will take an additional 20 minutes.

3. Airport Buses – Express Coach The journey from KLIA to KL Sentral will be approximately 1 hour. The fare for one way is RM10 (adult) and RM6 (children) while the return fare is RM18 (adult) and RM10 (children). Tickets can be purchased from the ticket counter located on the ground floor, Block C, at KLIA.

We encourage each participant to bring adequate funds (in RM) to ensure that his/her transportation costs from the airport to the hotel are covered.

4. Arrival by Local Public Transportation to the Meeting Venue Buses Within the (Kuala Lumpur and cities), Rapid KL is the main mass public transportation provider via integrated Transit system ( and Ampang Lines) with 161 bus routes. The service offers a direct connection between Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station (KL Sentral) and the KLCC LRT station, with air- conditioned pedestrian walkway linking directly to the Concourse level of Suria KLCC shopping centre. The local Rapid KL ALL-DAY ticket can be used to visit the same places as the Hop On Hop Off (HOHO) Bus via various, non-circular bus routes. Expect to pay RM 1.00 for the All- Day Local Bus, about RM 2.00 on the All-Day Trunk Bus or All-Day City Bus and RM 5.00 for an All-Day Express Bus. The ALL-DAY ticket will give unlimited rides on the routes in the same service (Local, Trunk, City or Express). Buy the tickets on the bus or visit the Rapid KL Website.

Trains, and Light Rail Transport (LRT) The train system in KL is fairly modern and efficient. Many of the lines do not interconnect and there is limited integration between the lines. The KL train system are: KL Monorail, Star LRT, Putra LRT, ERL and KTM Komuter. Then there is also the KLIA Express which goes non-stop between KL Sentral and Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Tickets are fairly cheap, and are charged for the distance traveled. Tickets are bought from ticket booths or the machines at the station entrances. For a complete network chart of the trains, monorail and LRT, information can be found on this link http://www.myrapid.com.my/rail/routes.

Taxis Taxis should always use a meter. This does not apply to couponed taxis at KL Sentral or other areas with a taxi coupon system, such as the KL Bird Park, or for taxis/airport limousine because the prices are fixed. Any other taxi must by regulation comply with using the meter. Before stepping into the taxi, always ask and confirm if they are going by the meter. If not, close the door and get another taxi. Flag fall rate for a standard taxi is RM 2.00 for the first kilometer then 0.10 cent for each additional 200 meters according to the meter.

3 IV. DURATION AND SCHEDULE OF THE PLENARY SESSION

Please refer to Annex 1 (Provisional agenda)

Stakeholder Days

Stakeholder Days, open to all members, observers and stakeholders of IPBES, have been organized in advance of each previous plenary meeting as opportunities for a wide range of interested organizations to get updates on the IPBES process and to discuss their engagement in IPBES through informal exchange of views on specific aspects of the plenary meetings agendas. As outcomes of these meetings, positions on key issues related to stakeholder engagement have been jointly prepared.

The IPBES Secretariat will convene, prior to IPBES-4, a two-day stakeholder meeting (Stakeholder Days), facilitated by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and ICSU (International Council for Science)/Future Earth and other volunteers, from 20 to 21 February 2016 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia.

A registration process, separate from IPBES-4, is required to attend the Stakeholder Days. Stakeholders – including countries’ delegates - who want to participate are kindly requested to register here before 5 February 2016, and to contact the IPBES-4 Stakeholder Days project team via email ([email protected]), should they need more information. Participants are invited to note that no financial support is available, and that an invitation letter can be provided for visa purposes.

V. REGISTRATION

All delegates are requested to register on arrival at the meeting venue. Registration will open at the following times:

 7:30 am - 6:00 pm, Saturday, February 20, 2016  8:00 am - 6:00 pm, Sunday, February 21, 2016  8:00 am - 6:00 pm, Monday, February 22, 2016  8:00 am - 6:00 pm, Tuesday, February 23, 2016  8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Wednesday, February 24, 2016  8:00 am - 5:00 pm, Thursday, February 25, 2016

Delegates are reminded that the list of participants is based on the information provided by them at the time of registration and that inclusion in the list of participants is conditional upon official registration. UN sponsored delegates are requested to obtain from the registration desk at the time of registration, information and procedures related to payment of their daily subsistence allowance (DSA).

A valid identification document with photo, such as a passport along with an official credential letter (for all IPBES Member representatives) will be required at registration.

1. Credentials Each Member of the Platform is required to submit the official credentials of its representative, together with the names of alternate representatives and advisers, to the 4 secretariat. In accordance with the Rules of Procedure adopted for IPBES, the credentials must be issued by or on behalf of the Member’s Head of State or Government or Minister for Foreign Affairs consistent with each country’s policies and law. Each Member is encouraged to send a copy of the credentials to the secretariat in advance of the meeting, preferably by e- mail ([email protected]), and the original should be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than 24 hours after the opening of the session. Only Members that have submitted valid credentials will have the right to take part in decision making at the meeting.

2. Accreditation of (non-Government) observers Active participation by observers to the fourth plenary session of IPBES, which includes making statements to the intergovernmental meeting, requires accreditation according to the IPBES rules and procedures adopted.

The interim procedure for the admission of observers to sessions of the Plenary, as described in paragraph 22 of the report of the first session of the Plenary and applied for its second and third sessions, will also be applied at its fourth session. Participants from non-accredited organisations, who would like to get their organization considered for accreditation as an observer for this session of the plenary, are requested to provide information about their organisations when registering on http://ipbes.net/index.php/registrationformipbes4

3. Nomination letters from Observer Organization Active participation by observers to the fourth plenary session of IPBES, which includes making statements to the intergovernmental meeting, requires nomination letters submitted according to the IPBES rules and procedures adopted.

Information for developing country government participants requiring financial support: For developing country government representatives, IPBES is able, upon request, to provide financial support to cover travel expenses corresponding to the most economical and direct flights to Kuala Lumpur, for one representative from each country. Please note that IPBES will only be able to provide such funding for participants holding valid credentials or otherwise officially nominated by the Government to attend the meeting. Duly accredited representatives requiring financial assistance are requested to notify the secretariat by e-mail ([email protected]) by 30 October 2015 at the very latest, enclosing a copy of their credentials and/or nomination letter.

Badges: Identity badges will be issued to participants upon registration. For security reasons, all delegates are requested to wear the badges at all times.

List of delegates: A print out of the list of participants will be available in the meeting room as soon as possible after the start of the meeting. Delegates are requested to check the entries carefully and hand in any corrections to the registration desk. The timeline for this exercise will be communicated by the Secretariat during the meeting.

5 VI. INFORMATION ON THE MEETING

Meeting documents Working and information documents for the meeting are available at www.ipbes.net/plenary/ipbes-4

A reduced paper meeting In an effort to make the meeting as environmentally friendly as possible, a paperless meeting system will be used, whereby participants are encouraged to access the designated website (www.ipbes.net/plenary/ipbes-4) for all pre-session and in-session documentation. A limited number of paper copies will also be made available. To that end, participants are strongly encouraged to bring their personal laptops to the meeting and to ensure that their laptop is loaded with antivirus software that is up-to-date. A web-based system will be used in the meeting, therefore the only requirement is a laptop which has wireless capability to connect to the Wi-Fi network at the conference venue and a browser to access the paperless system, e.g. Internet Explorer, Firefox or Netscape.

Interpretation Simultaneous interpretation will be available for the official plenary meetings in all 6 UN languages: Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. Interpretation will not be available for regional or break out and working group meetings.

Duration and schedule of the meeting The meeting will be held during seven days, from Monday 22 February 2016 from 10 a.m. to Sunday 28 February 2016 at 6 p.m. The morning plenary meetings are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and the afternoon meetings from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. A number of evening sessions may also be required. Participants are requested to be present at the meetings on time.

In addition, Africa Regional Consultation meetings and the Stakeholder Days will take place on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February 2016 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the other Regional Consultations meetings will take place on Sunday 21st February 2016 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Daily coverage of the meeting Daily IISD coverage of the meeting will be made available at http://www.iisd.ca

Follow IPBES to receive tweets about the event: http://twitter.com/IPBES

Like us on Facebook:

Opening Ceremony of the Plenary When: 3:00 – 4:00 pm, Monday, 21 February, 2016 Where: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, First Floor, Plenary theatre

Press Conference and Webcast to Announce the Thematic Assessment of Pollinators, Pollination and Food Production When: 3:00 pm, Friday, 26 February, 2016 Where: Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre Webcast access: [to be provided once available]

6 Election of Bureau

Nomination for Bureau Election

The secretariat has posted the names of persons nominated to the bureau and their curricula vitae, as well as the identity of the region making the nomination here: http://ipbes.net/plenary/nominations-to-the-bureau-2. This information is also available in information document IPBES/4/INF/17 and its addenda. The Plenary can accept late nominations at its discretion.

Election

The members of the Bureau will be elected by the Plenary by consensus unless the Plenary decides otherwise in accordance with rule 21 of the Rules of procedures for the Plenary of the Platform.

DSA disbursement and travel

A new procedure for disbursement of Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) for supported delegates will be used for IPBES-4. Instead of receiving cash, as in previous years, supported delegates will be given a “cash card” which can be used for cash withdrawals at ATM machines or over the counter payment for expenses (e.g. hotel, restaurants, shops) like standard debit/credit cards.

The Secretariat will issue cards to supported delegates after receiving copies of their passports, original boarding passes, a hotel bill in case of approved stop-overs, and any other supporting documents to justify any other authorized costs (visa fees, etc.).

The card will be empty upon receipt, and loaded with money once the Secretariat confirms reception of the above documents as well as a confirmation from UNEP office in Geneva. This step might take a minimum of 24 hours. Delegates will receive an email confirmation once the cards are activated and ready for use. The secretariat strongly recommends supported delegates to bring sufficient cash to cover their initial expenditure and to provide the required documents in the DSA office (Room 308) at their earliest convenience.

VII. GENERAL INFORMATION ON KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia is a beautifully complex vacation destination, a land where ancient rainforests give way to multicultural city life. The capital city Kuala Lumpur is visually defined by the iconic Petronas Twin Towers.

Kuala Lumpur is the federal capital and most populous city in Malaysia. Literally meaning "muddy river confluence" in Malay, Kuala Lumpur has grown from a small sleepy Chinese tin- mining village to a bustling metropolis of around 6.5 million (city-proper population of 1.8 million) in just 150 years.

The city covers an area of 243 km2 (94 sq mi) and has an estimated population of 1.8 million. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million people. It is among the fastest growing metropolitan regions in terms of population and 7 economy in South-East Asia.

Kuala Lumpur is the seat of the Parliament of Malaysia. The official residence of the Malaysian King, the Istana Negara, is also situated in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur is the cultural, financial and economic center of Malaysia due to its position as the capital as well as being a key city.

1. Map of Kuala Lumpur:

2. Embassies and High Commissions in Malaysia: Please Refer to Annex 3.

VIII. OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Official Language in Malaysia The official language of Malaysia is Malay (Bahasa Malaysia), However, English is widely spoken.

Currency The is the currency of Malaysia. Our currency rankings show that the most popular Malaysia Ringgit exchange rate is the MYR to USD rate. The currency code for Ringgits is MYR, and the currency symbol is RM. 1.Bank notes are 1.00, 5.00, 10.00, 20.00, 50.00 and 100.00. RM3.70 is approximately equal to USD1.00.

Among the list of International Banks in Malaysia:

• Citibank Berhad • HSBC Bank Malaysia Berhad

8 • The Royal Bank of Scotland Berhad (RBS) • United Overseas Bank Malaysia Berhad (UOB) • Standard Chartered Bank Malaysia Berhad (Standard Chartered) Updated and accurate exchange rates can be referred to http://www.bnm.gov.my/index.php?ch=statistic&pg=stats_exchangerates

Credit cards Major credit cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, can be used at establishments, however, some restaurants and small shops accept cash payments only. Participants are advised to consult their banks prior to arrival in order to confirm that their debit/credit/ATM cards will allow transactions in Russia.

Standard Time Zone Malaysia is +8 hours of the Universal Coordinated Time.

Weather Malaysia enjoys a tropical rainforest climate and the weather is generally hot and humid. There are essentially two seasons. There is the dry season (May to September) and wet season (mid November to March). However, rainfall can be expected at almost any time of the year. Temperatures in Kuala Lumpur are fairly steady throughout the year, averaging between 23°C and 33°C.

Communication International direct dial (IDD) telephone services are available in all hotel rooms. Please note that personal phone calls made from the hotel rooms will be charged to personal account. For mobile phone users, mobile networks cover all of Kuala Lumpur. Nonetheless, delegates are advised to check with their local network operators on roaming services.

Delegates have the option of purchasing a local SIM for their mobile phones. Mobile Network providers include Celcom, DiGi, Maxis and U-Mobile. Malaysia IDD code: +60

Electricity The electrical currents are 240 volts, 50 Hertz as shown in the illustration below. Please make sure you have a suitable adapter because this will not be provided.

Cuisine Kuala Lumpur is a melting pot of cuisine. Various types of foods can easily be found from Asian to European and African cuisine. Most hotels and restaurants serve local cuisine.

Emergency Calls Police / Ambulance: 999

9 Fire & Rescue: 994 Information: 103 Tourist Police: +603 2163 4422

IX. VISA

You are advised to contact the Malaysian diplomatic or consular mission in your respective country to obtain an entry visa before departing for Malaysia. You are also advised to obtain, where necessary, a transit visa for places en route to Malaysia before the commencement of your journey. To facilitate the issuance of visas, the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology (MIGHT) will issue upon request, a supporting letter to be attached with your visa application.

Please refer to information provided by the immigration department of Malaysia for specific visa requirements: http://www.imi.gov.my/index.php/en/main-services/visa/visa- requirement-by-country/7-perkhidmatan-utama/286-visa-requirement-by-country

I. SPECIAL NEEDS

The IPBES Secretariat and meeting organisers are committed to ensure that all participants have a fruitful and pleasant stay in Kuala Lumpur. Participants are encouraged to provide the meeting organisers with information regarding accessibility needs, dietary concerns and allergies, relevant medical issues, and any other special need requests which can be fulfilled by contacting the secretariat ([email protected]).

Vaccination Yellow Fever certificate is required to be produced upon landing in Malaysia for participants arriving from Peru.

Insurance: All participants are advised to obtain travel insurance themselves. IPBES and meeting organisers will not accept responsibility for any medical bills, accidents or losses in connection with attending the event.

10 Annex 1: Provisional agenda

Plenary of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

Fourth Session

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 22 – 28 February 2016

Provisional agenda

1. Opening of the session. 2. Organizational matters: a. Adoption of the agenda and organization of work; b. Status of the membership of the Platform; c. Admission of observers to the fourth session of the Plenary of the Platform. 3. Credentials of representatives. 4. Report of the Executive Secretary on the implementation of the work programme 2014–2018. 5. Work programme of the Platform: a. Thematic assessment of pollination and pollinators associated with food production; b. Thematic assessments of scenario analysis and modelling of biodiversity and ecosystem services; c. Task forces on capacity-building, indigenous and local knowledge systems, and knowledge and data (including data and management plan/system); d. Scoping documents on a global assessment; on the conceptualization of values; on invasive alien species; on the sustainable use of biodiversity; e. Policy support tools and methodologies. 6. Financial and budgetary arrangements for the Platform: a. Budget and expenditure for 2014–2018; b. Trust Fund. 7. Rules and procedures for the operation of the Platform: a. Nomination and selection of members of the Bureau; b. Procedures for the preparation of the Platform’s deliverables c. Procedure for the review of the Platform; d. Policy and procedures for the admission of observers. 8. Communications and stakeholder engagement: a. Communications and outreach strategy; b. Stakeholder engagement and strategic partnerships. 9. Institutional arrangements: United Nations collaborative partnership arrangements for the work of the Platform and its secretariat. 10. Provisional agenda, date and venue of future sessions of the Plenary. 11. Adoption of decisions and report of the session. 12. Closure of the session.

11 Annex 2: List of Embassies and High Commissions in Malaysia

No. Address Contact No.

1. Australian High Commission Tel: +60 3 2146 5555 No. 6, Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 2141 5773

2. Brunei Darussalam High Commission Tel: +60 3 2161 2800 Suite 19-01, 19th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Fax: +60 3 2163 1302 Kuala Lumpur.

3. High Commission of Canada Tel: +60 3 2718 3333 17th Floor, Menara Tan & Tan, 207 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Fax: +60 3 2718 3399 Lumpur.

4. Embassy of Chile Tel: +60 3 2161 6203 Wisma Dredging, East Block, 8th floor 142, Fax: +60 3 2162 2219 50450 Kuala Lumpur.

5. Embassy of the People's Republic of China Tel: +60 3 2163 6815 229, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur.

6. Hong Kong Embassy Tel: +60 3 2175 8888/ 1st Floor, Plaza OSK, 25 Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. 2175 7888 Fax: +60 3 2175 6888

7. Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia Tel: +60 3 2166 4100 233, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 2141 7908

8. Embassy of Japan Tel: +60 3 2142 7044 No. 11, Persiaran Stonor, Off Jalan Tun Razak, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 2142 6570/ 2143 1739/ 2141 4593

9. Embassy of the Republic of Korea Tel: +60 3 4251 2336 No. 9-11, Jalan Nipah, Off Jalan Ampang, 50400 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 4252 1425

10. Embassy of Mexico Tel: +60 3 2164 6362 Level 22, Menara Tan & Tan, #207 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Fax: +60 3 2164 0964 Lumpur.

11. New Zealand High Commission Tel: +60 3 2078 2533 Level 21, Menara IMC, 8 Jalan Sultan Ismail, 50250 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 2078 0387

12. High Commission of Papua New Guinea Tel: +60 3 4257 5405/ 4257 9260 No. 11, Lingkungan Uthant, Off Jalan U-Thant, 55000 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 4257 6203

13. Embassy of Peru Tel: +60 3 2163 3034 Wisma Selangor Dredging, 6th floor, South Block 142-A, Jalan Fax: +60 3 2163 3039 Ampang 50450 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia

14. Embassy of the Republic of the Philippines Tel: +60 3 2148 4233 1, Changkat Kia Peng, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 2148 3576

15. Embassy of the Russian Federation Tel: +60 3 4256 3949 No.263, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 4252 3919

12 16. High Commission of the Republic of Singapore Tel: +60 3 2161 6277 209 Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 2161 6343

17. Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Tel: +60 3 2161 4439/ 2161 5508 Level 7, Menara Yayasan Tun Razak, No. 200, Jalan , 65100, Kuala Lumpur.

18. Royal Thai Embassy Tel: +60 3 2148 8222 206, Jalan Ampang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 2148 6527

19. Embassy of the United States Tel: +60 3 2168 5000/ 2168 4997 376, Jalan Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur Fax: +60 3 2148 5801

20. Embassy of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Tel: +60 3 2148 4036 / 2148 4036 4, Persiaran Stonor, 50450 Kuala Lumpur. Fax: +60 3 2148 3270

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