BioNET-INTERNATIONAL's first consultation

Biosystematics is the study of the relationships and classification of biological diversity. It embraces the construction of classifications, the naming of organisms, and the development of diagnostic methods. Interest in biosystematic services has been renewed, following the requirements of integrated pest management systems and concerns about environmental degradation and the loss of biodiversity. In developing countries, where sustainable agricultural development remains an overriding imperative inadequate biosytematic capabilities impede progress in programmes supporting such development. It is the consensus of various international fore that the only practical solution to the present imbalance in biosystematic capability is to develop a global system of institutional partners. BioNET-INTERNATIONAL is an initiative specifically devised to promote, foster, facilitate and sustain programmes for strengthening the biosystematic capabilities of developing country institutions, with the aim of assisting them, together with their sub-regional partners, in being able to provide the biosystematic services needed in the sub-regions. BioNET-INTERNATIONAL is conceived as a world-wide Technical Cooperation Network (TCN) made up of a series of regional or sub-regional Locally Organized Operational Partnerships (LOOPS), supported by a consortium of technical support institutions (BIOCON). BioNET-INTERNATIONAL will be particularly concerned with the biosystematics of arthropods, nematodes and micro-organisms. The first consultation meeting of BioNET-INTERNATIONAL was held in London in June of this year. The implementation of the proposals adopted at the meeting will help to build up the biosystematic capabilities of ACP countries. BioNET-INTERNATIONAL Consultative Group, Technical Secretariat CAB International 56 Queen's Gate London SW7 5JR UKBiosystematics is the study of the relationships and classification of biological diversity. It embraces the construction of classifications, the naming of organisms, and the development of diagnostic methods. Interest in biosystematic services has..