GUIDE TO THE GLOBAL TAXONOMY INITIATIVE CBD Technical Series Guide To The Global Taxonomy Initiative GUIDE TO THE GLOBAL TAXONOMY INITIATIVE CONTENTS FOREWARD . .v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . .vi EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . .vii 1 INTRODUCTION . .1 1.1 Taxonomy and the taxonomic impediment . .1 1.2 The Global Taxonomy Initiative . .7 1.3 Purpose of the Guide . .8 2 BACKGROUND . .9 2.1 The Convention on Biological Diversity . .9 2.2 How does the CBD run? . .10 2.3 The Global Taxonomy Initiative to support implementation of the CBD . .11 2.3.1 GTI and the 2010 biodiversity target . .12 2.4 Who is responsible for the GTI? . .12 3 THE PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR THE GTI . .16 3.1 Introduction . .16 3.2 Planned activities . .16 3.2.1 National taxonomic needs assessments . .16 3.2.2 Regional taxonomic needs assessments . .26 3.2.3 Global taxonomic needs assessments . .27 3.2.4 Public awareness and education . .28 3.2.5 Global and regional capacity-building to support access to and generation of taxonomic information . .29 3.2.6 Strengthening of existing networks for regional co-operation . .32 3.2.7 Development of a coordinated Global Taxonomy Information System . .33 3.2.8 Forest biological diversity . .40 3.2.9 Marine and coastal biological diversity . .41 3.2.10 Dry and sub-humid lands biodiversity . .43 3.2.11 Inland waters biological diversity . .44 3.2.12 Agricultural biological diversity . .45 3.2.12.1 Soil biodiversity . .46 3.2.12.2 The International Pollinators Initiative (IPI) . .46 3.2.12.3 Pests and pathogens . .48 3.2.13 Mountain biological diversity . .48 3.2.14 Island biological diversity . .49 3.2.15 Access and benefit-sharing . .49 3.2.16 Invasive alien species . .53 3.2.17 Support in implementation of Article 8(j) - Traditional knowledge, innovations and practise. .58 ii Guide To The Global Taxonomy Initiative 3.2.18 Support for ecosystem approach and CBD work on assessment including impact assessments, monitoring and indicators . .59 3.2.19 Protected areas . .59 4 DEVELOPING THE GTI AND MONITORING ITS PROGRESS . .62 4.1 Roles and responsibilities . .62 4.1.1 The CBD Secretariat . .62 4.1.2 The GTI Coordination Mechanism . .62 4.1.3 National Focal Points . .63 4.1.4 COP and SBSTTA . .65 4.2 Mechanisms to facilitate implementation . .65 4.2.1 National reporting . .65 4.2.2 NBSAPs . .66 4.2.3 Roster of experts . .66 4.2.4 Outreach . .66 4.2.5 Taxonomic needs assessments . .67 4.2.6 Pilot projects . .68 4.3 Obstacles to implementation . .68 5 FUNDING FOR THE GTI . .71 5.1 Sources of funding for the GTI . .71 5.1.1 National support to taxonomy . .71 5.1.2 The Global Environment Facility . .72 5.1.3 Other multilateral sources . .75 5.1.4 Bilateral sources . .75 5.1.5 Nongovernmental sources . .76 5.1.6 Special fund for the GTI under BioNET-International and other organizations . .77 5.2 Examples of GTI projects . .77 5.2.1 National Project – Partnerships for Enhancing Expertise in Taxonomy (US) . .77 5.2.2 GEF Project – The Indonesian Biodiversity Collection Project . .78 5.2.3 GEF Project – SABONET(the Southern African Botany Diversity Network) . .79 5.2.4 GEF Project – Botanical and Zoological Taxonomic Networks in Eastern Africa (BOZONET): Linking Conservation to Taxonomy . .80 5.2.5 GEF Project – Biodiversity Resources Development Project for Costa Rica . .80 5.2.6 Bilateral – Example projects supported by the UK Darwin Initiative . .81 5.2.7 Bilateral – Example projects supported by the Belgian Development Corporation and the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences . .81 iii Guide To The Global Taxonomy Initiative 5.2.8 Regional European Union Initiatives . .81 5.2.9 Non-governmental – Investing in Nature: an eco-partnership between the HSBC Group, WWF, Botanic Gardens Conservation International and Earthwatch . .81 5.3 Mobilizing funding . .82 6 INFORMATION SOURCES AND USEFUL CONTACTS . .86 6.1 Taxonomic tools and information sources . .86 6.1.1 Nomenclature references . .86 6.1.2 Other taxonomic tools . .86 6.2 Key partners . .90 6.3 Further information . .91 ANNEX 1. ACRONYMS USED IN TEXT . .93 ANNEX 2. REFERENCES AND FURTHER READING . .106 ANNEX 3. CONVENTION DOCUMENTS SPECIFICALLY ON TAXONOMY AND THE GLOBAL TAXONOMY INITIATIVE . .110 ANNEX 4. KEY ELEMENTS OF COP DECISIONS RELEVANT TO THE GTI . .114 ANNEX 5. OUTLINE STRATEGY FOR TAXONOMIC CAPACITY-BUILDING. .133 ANNEX 6. SAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR A TAXONOMIC NEEDS ASSESSMENT . .138 ANNEX 7. USEFUL CONTACT ADDRESSES . ..