[Taxacom] The loss of knowledge of tropical biodiversity

[Beach, James H]

This message is from Eric Gouda, please respond to the list or directly
to him, not to the sender.  Thanks!
 
 
 
Dear Botanists,

We have seen a global loss of knowledge of tropical biodiversity in the
past years and probably in some more years to come.
Many institutions world wide are changing their focal points and
traditional botanists are becoming scarce.

For example the Utrecht University is going to close down its Herbarium
section (well known for its work on Neotropical Botany) within a few
years and a miracle must happen to stop this process.

On the other hand, Biodiversity is high on the political agendas,
Conventions on Biodiversity are ratified by governments all over the
world.
The knowledge about Biodiversity seems to be relevant to the community,
than how is it possible that it is lost so rapidly?



*	Are Botanist not capable to show the relevance of their work? 
*	Do we need a political lobby to stop the decline of traditional
botany and if so how could we mobilize botanists with political
influence to do so? 
*	Would a global forum be needed? 
	

This feels for me like a call from the desert. Hope somebody is hearing
me.

Best regards,
Eric

   ____               ____   E.J.Gouda at bio.uu.nl
http://www.uu.nl/botgard/
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UTRECHT