BIN21 - Univ. Reading Herbarium News 30

[Jim Croft]

"BIN 21"
========

[ extract from University of Reading, Plant Science Laboratories,
  Herbarium News 30: 10, 14 Dec 1992 ]

Herbarium News readers may be interested to hear of this Network and
may wish to contact members of the interim steering committee by
email (see below).

A Workshop on the Needs and Specifications for a Biodiversity
Information Network, held at the Tropical Data Base, Campinas,
Brazil, July 26-31, 1992, was attended by 35 people from a number of
international organisations.  It was made available online through a
variety of electronic networks which were accessed by some 200
people, 30 of whom sent contributions to the discussions.

The purpose of the Network is to support and encourage protection of
the environment and conservation of the genetic resources inherent in
its biodiversity.  In order to pursue this object and support the
Biodiversity Convention and Agenda 21 (Chapters 15 and 40) of the Rio
Summit June 1992, the following recommendations were agreed.  These
will be distributed widely so that the biodiversity community has the
opportunity to comment and express its interest.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.      The initiative will be known as the Biodiversity Information
        Network 21.  The network will facilitate access to all levels
        of information (from molecular to biosphere) and will combine
        the knowledge within each discipline, furthering the
        understanding
        of biodiversity of living systems.  Such an effort will
        identify and seek to fill the gaps, leading to new research
        and more informed policy decisions.

2.      The goal will be to exchange information by electronic
        means whenever possible, but to include other ways of
        communication as needed by the network participants.  To
        achieve a global electronic access, support should be
        provided to regions where facili
        ties do not exist.

3.      It will be a distributed network that will link many
        different sources of information across the world and will
        operate on a not-for-profit basis.  Such a design is
        scientifically, economically and politically practicable,
        allowing effort and resources
        to be shared.

4.      The network will be open to a wide range of user groups
        including, but not limited to scientists, teachers, natural
        resource managers, policy makers, regulatory and legislative
        agencies and public interest groups.  The needs of the user
        community will
        be actively sought to enable their requirements to be met
        more effectively.

5.      The network will actively encourage the free exchange of
        information on a worldwide basis and will also encourage the
        standardisation of information and methodology.

6.      A Secretariat will be established as a focal point and
        clearing house to facilitate and coordinate the flow of
        information among those with an interest in biodiversity.

7.      Cooperating groups will be established with the purpose of
        encouraging participation and regional development.
        Collaboration with existing centres will be encouraged in
        order to prevent duplication of efforts already underway and
        to promote efficient use of funds.  Support for developing
        countries to ensure global participation will be an important
        element.

8.      Initially, an interim Steering Committee will be set up to
        coordinate immediate activities and seek funding.  It will be
        supported by a number of Working Groups.  These working
        groups will advise in areas such as: Technical Issues,
        Outreach, Training a
        nd Editorial/Moderating Functions.

9.      An initial activity will be to design and develop a
        Directory of Biodiversity Information Resources, drawing on
        existing directories.  It will be made widely available by
        all possible means.

10.     The involvement and support of other organisations and
        initiatives working within biodiversity will be solicited.

The following names are of people to start the working groups'
activities; they are interested in finding interested
people/experts/volunteers willing to help with the work and expand
the Groups.  If you are interested in participating, please send an
e-m
ail to the people directly involved.

Interim Steering Committee
B Kirsop (msdn at cgnet.com)
A Whitworth (anthony at igc.org)
J McComb (johnm at wcmc.co.uk)
B Dias (braulio at bdt.ftpt.ansp.br)




>From root Mon Jan  1 00:00:00 1970
Jury, Stephen L. SBSJURY at READING.AC.UK (Internet) Herb. Curator (RNG)
                 Department of Botany, Univ. of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading,
                 RG6 2AS, United Kingdom  Ph (44) 734318169  FAX (44) 734753676


____________________________________________________________________________
Jim Croft                [Herbarium CBG]           internet: jrc at anbg.gov.au
Australian National Botanic Gardens                   voice:  +61-6-2509 490
GPO Box 1777, Canberra, ACT 2601, AUSTRALIA             fax:  +61-6-2509 599
______a division of the Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service______