Thu 14 Aug 08
Absence of Government leadership is damaging taxonomy in the UK
The UK House of Lords Science and Technology Committee released its latest assessment of taxonomy on 13 August. In its report Systematics and Taxonomy: Follow-Up the Committee: * examines the role of taxonomy in delivery of policies nationally and internationally, the health of the discipline, the roles of new technologies, funding and government awareness * finds that capacity building in taxonomy is especially important for many developing countries * identifies the need for more effective dialogue between the users and producers of taxonomic information * criticises the mixed messages on funding for taxonomic research in the UK * calls for the UK Government to provide the funding needed to ensure the maintenance of CABI’s unique collection of fungi * criticises the lack of leadership and confused responsibility for taxonomy in UK Government * notes that taxonomy is crucial for many targets on biodiversity and climate change. Evidence submitted by BioNET \| Press notice \| Full report with evidence

Tue 29 Jul 08
First Global Invasive Species Information Network data providers' workshop
GISIN, the Global Invasive Species Information Network, held its first workshop for early adoptors of its freely available system for information exchange, 2-5 June 2008. The workshop was an important step towards disseminating the GISIN Protocol and further developing the systems needed for sharing information needed to prevent and manage invasive species. Click here to read the Report. BioNET supports GISIN through participation in its interim Steering Committee.

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Tue 3 Jun 08
Biodiversity, taxonomy and the global food crisis
International Day of Biological Diversity - 22 May 2008 – was an occasion to highlight the urgent need for capacity building in developing countries to strengthen research on biological diversity to address the global food crisis. Taxonomic expertise plays an important role in generating knowledge to enhance agriculture through its contributions to pest, pollinator and soil management and more. A paper in a Special Issue of the journal Biodiversity published by Tropical Conservancy on 22 May, examines “The value of taxonomy to biodiversity and agriculture”. Click here to download the paper.

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Tue 3 Jun 08
Managing invasive species - what taxonomic support is needed?
Climate change is magnifying the risks invasive species pose to agriculture, livelihoods and conservation world-wide. The first global level assessment of the taxonomic support needed to manage invasive alien species has been published by the Global Invasive Species Programme. Launched on 19 May at a side event at the ninth Conference of the Parties of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the assessment provides a reference and framework for action for agencies and authorities responsible for invasives management; for taxonomic institutions; and for networks, funders, coordinating and policy bodies. The assessment was undertaken by BioNET and NHM, London with support from Defra, CABI and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. Click here for more on BioNET-NHM needs assessments. Click here PDF 1.3 Mb for the assessment.

Tue 13 May 08
Taxonomy in Europe in the 21st Century
The European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy (EDIT) has released a report of discussions held by its "future scoping group". The group, which included Richard Smith, Director of BioNET's Secretariat, has developed a vision for the subject, facilities, expertise, users and management of taxonomy in Europe in the coming decades. The directors of 27 major taxonomic institutions in and outside Europe have approved the report as a roadmap for the development of taxonomy in the coming decades.

\| email lancelot@mnhn.fr

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