Millennium Ecosystem Assessment

The Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MA) is an international process designed to meet the needs of decision makers and the public for scientific information concerning the consequences of ecosystem change for human well-being and options for responding to those changes. Leading scientists from more than 100 nations will conduct the assessment, with oversight by a Board comprised of representatives of four international conventions, five United Nations agencies, international scientific organizations, and leaders from the private sector, NGOs, and indigenous groups. The MA is designed to meet some of the assessment needs of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Convention to Combat Desertification, and the Wetlands Convention, as well as needs of other users in the private sector and civil society. It was launched by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan in June 2001. The first products will be released in 2003, and the main products will be released in 2004. It is anticipated that a process like the MA will be repeated every 5 to 10 years.