A world in which the capacity to name all living organisms is accessible to serve the needs of people everywhere.

BioNET - the global network for taxonomy - is an international initiative dedicated to promoting the science and use of taxonomy, especially in the economically poorer countries of the world. To date the network comprises ten government-endorsed regional networks, the 'Locally Owned and Operated Partnerships' (LOOPs), encompassing institutions and 3,000 individuals in over 100 countries, and a Secretariat in the UK hosted by CABI, an international not-for-profit organisation.

Working via local and international partnerships, BioNET strives to provide a forum for collaboration that is equally open to all taxonomists and to the other users of taxonomy. Our work contributes to raising awareness of the importance of taxonomy to society, building and sharing of capacity, and meeting taxonomic needs via innovative tools and approaches.

BioNET is uniquely positioned to assists the developing world in responding to their key challenges: food security, poverty reduction, climate change, and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The network supports the achievement of, for example, the Millennium Development Goals and the targets of the Convention of Biological Diversity. Information material on BioNET and taxonomy can be downloaded from the BioNET Outreach page.