The International Year of Biodiversity: an opportunity to strengthen the science-policy interface for biodiversity and ecosystem services Editorial overview

Anne Larigauderie is Executive Director of DIVERSITAS, the international programme dedicated to biodiversity science of ICSU and UNESCO. She has a PhD in plant ecophysiology (Montpellier, 1985) and spent over 10 years studying the impact of increasing atmospheric CO2 and temperature on natural vegetation in different ecosystems. In 1999, she joined the International Council for Science, ICSU, as Environment Science Officer, in charge of ICSU’s portfolio of environmental programmes. At DIVERSITAS, since 2002, she is interested in strengthening the science–policy interface for biodiversity, and the role of scientists at international policy fora where more science is needed.