[Taxacom] article on taxonomy

[Chris Lyal]

Mary wrote:
 
" We need to gather in one place the stories about how systematics has benefited humans, not just in the past but now. I have said that I shall do this for herbaria. Some of the stories have not made it into print."

I think this is a valuable suggestion, and goes back to the point made by David Schindel about the needs for taxonomic information by non-taxonomists.  It is important to remeber that while taxonomy is a fascinating science in its own right it is (as we are fond of saying) the foundation of all other biological sciences.  This of course means that we need to be able to deliver what those sciences need.  

The original paper makes a number of comments about the CBD, and the theme of politicians not knowing what taxonomy can produce has surfaced.  It is worth recalling the CBD's Global Taxonomy Initiative (http://www.cbd.int/gti/ <https://webmail.nhm.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cbd.int/gti/> ), which was a policy initiative put in place precisely because the CBD requires taxonomy in order to succeed.   The CBD, through the GTI, has called for quite extensive taxonomy products, but very much in the context of solving problems in biodiversity (conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing benefits of genetic resources - the CBD foci).  Take a look at the 'Guide to the GTI' (http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-ts-30.pdf <https://webmail.nhm.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-ts-30.pdf> ) for more information.  

In this context taxonomic work, in order to show its value, must be linked with someone who will use the outputs of the taxonomy to deliver a biodiversity benefit.  Examples of such taxonomic work (getting back to Mary's point) are given in the 'Why Taxonomy Matters' case studies at http://www.bionet-intl.org/opencms/opencms/caseStudies/ <https://webmail.nhm.ac.uk/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.bionet-intl.org/opencms/opencms/caseStudies/>    Another place to look is in an overview and review of taxonomic projects in the UK's Darwin Initiative, which can be found at darwin.defra.gov.uk/reports/briefing_note.taxonomy.pdf and darwin.defra.gov.uk/reports/thematic_review.GTI.pdf respectively.

There is a lot of policy in place calling for taxonomy, and there are people funding it - not enough to be sure, but there are some.  There is still, no doubt about it, a continued challenge to remind users of taxonomy what can be made available (and what it costs to produce - no arguments there!), but I think there is also a challenge to make sure taxonomists are actually delivering what policy is calling for.
 
Cheers
Chris