BioNET's mission
BioNET strives to enhance biodiversity conservation and human well-being by building capacity to discover, name and classify the world’s living organisms.

Why is BioNET needed?
Taxonomic capacity is unequally distributed, declining and its outputs are insufficient to respond effectively to today’s societal and scientific needs - a phenomenon known as the taxonomic impediment. Taxonomy is the "poor cousin" in science:

• while being used as a tool by many fields, it is generally taken for granted rather than strongly supported by these sectors;
  
  
• taxonomy has to be practiced internationally - species distributions and relationships do not follow political boundaries - but funding for international studies is difficult to secure;
  
  
• taxonomy is cumulative, not prone to sudden breakthroughs, and seldomly receives crisis or "press release driven" new funding.

The need for taxonomy to contribute to biodiversity management and socio-economic development is greatest in the biodiversity rich less developed countries. This is why BioNET focuses its activities particularly in these regions.

The LOOPs - "Locally Owned and Operated Partnerships"
BioNET’s regional networks have partnership-based programmes of work including typically e.g. the identification of taxonomic needs; human resource development; adoption and use of technologies; training and facilities for biological collections; increasing access to literature and information. LOOP work programmes serve as a framework for activities to be supported by member institutions, governments, international partners and development agencies. LOOPs provide BioNET and its international partners with in-depth local knowledge and direct insights into local priorities and institutional opportunities for developing taxonomic products and capacity.

The Secretariat
BioNET’s Secretariat serves as the main communication and information hub of the network and leads the delivery of the Global Programme in partnership with the LOOPs and international partners. Through targeted and strategic participation in policy forums, the Secretariat maintains global market knowledge of current and emerging needs for taxonomy related to development and biodiversity conservation. The Secretariat has a critical role in helping LOOPs respond to local taxonomic priorities by mobilising expertise and technical partnerships with capacity building organisations and technology initiatives. Underpinning the Secretariat’s functions are formal agreements with strategic partners such as the CBD Secretariat, GBIF, GISP, IFS, IUCN and CBOL.