Science-Driven Policies Vital to Halt Biodiversity Loss

Dr. Luthando Dziba, Executive Secretary.

Global biodiversity is disappearing at an alarming rate, threatening humanity’s future. This is not a distant threat but a present crisis, which Dr. Luthando Dziba, the new Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), believes can be addressed through science-based policy action.

Dziba assumes his role at a critical moment. A landmark IPBES report, launched last December, warned that biodiversity decline is accelerating due to humanity’s disconnection from nature, coupled with the unequal concentration of power and wealth.

“IPBES is not a new platform,” Dziba explained. “It has built a strong tradition of co-producing knowledge with member states. We are now launching our second global biodiversity assessment alongside crucial work on monitoring and spatial planning. This isn’t just about producing reports; it’s about creating a social process for change.”

The “social process” is central to IPBES’s approach. Member governments identify key biodiversity challenges, participate in designing assessments, and continuously review outcomes, integrating science and policy.

Prior to joining IPBES, Dziba held significant roles in South Africa, including Managing Executive for Conservation Services at South African National Parks (SANParks) and leading ecosystem services research at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). He has also co-chaired the Africa Regional Ecosystem Assessment and advised South Africa’s delegations at IPBES plenaries, CITES, and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

Dziba identifies a growing challenge: maintaining the credibility of science. “We must continue producing credible, policy-relevant—but not policy-prescriptive—work, enabling governments to make informed decisions,” he told IPS.

Established in 2012, IPBES unites over 145 member governments, providing independent, science-based assessments on biodiversity and ecosystem services. Dziba stresses that only transformative, “nexus” approaches—addressing issues holistically—can reverse biodiversity loss.

He cited successful examples, such as rural Senegal, where tackling invasive species and pollution reduced bilharzia infections by 32 percent in children while improving livelihoods. African conservation achievements, like saving the white rhino, also highlight the benefits of combining science with local knowledge.

IPBES actively integrates indigenous and local knowledge in its assessments, ensuring policies reflect ecosystems’ functioning and community needs. Dziba emphasizes balancing economic development with biodiversity protection and strengthening global collaborations, including partnerships with UN agencies and conventions like the CBD.

Dziba’s goal is to deliver high-quality assessments that shape the post-2030 global biodiversity agenda and secure IPBES’s financial sustainability. “Engaging businesses and philanthropies is not just about funding; it’s about recognizing biodiversity’s deep links to sustainable development,” he said.

For Dziba, bridging science and policy is essential to halt biodiversity loss and secure a sustainable future for people and the planet.