Workshop: Bases para a Conservação
da Biodiversidade do Estado de São Paulo
Views of Bonnie Carroll
IABIN - Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network
P.O.Box 4219, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-4219, USA
Tel: (423) 481.0388
Fax: (423) 4810390
Email: bcarroll@infointl.com
The Workshop was arranged in two parts. Part 1 was the Preliminary
Meeting which included key organizers and managers of Biodiversity
Programs. This meeting was primarily conducted in English and
focused on the contributions of the invited guest speakers. Part
two of the meeting was the larger technical session. This included
a briefer version of the invited papers, but focused on the working
group sessions of the scientists and policy makers in São
Paulo State. Since the technical session was primarily conducted
in Portuguese (and the attendee did not speak Portuguese), the
evaluation focuses on impressions from the preliminary meeting,
a session in English on policy issues, and overall impressions.
OVERALL IMPRESSIONS
The sessions were well organized and the participants were clearly
enthusiastic about the task at hand. Logistics, other than the
power outage at Serra Negra, went very smoothly. The informality
of the setting and the opportunity to informally network with
attendees at the meals allowed for excellent exchange of information.
GUEST SPEAKERS
The Guest Speakers represented a good variety of perspectives
including some relevant international efforts, some technical
tools, national models, and scientific issues. The presentations
of the Guest Speakers were more effective at the preliminary session
because there was more time and for some reason the environment
allowed for more interaction.
TECHNICAL/POLICY DISCUSSIONS
The policy discussion session focused on how to prioritize activities
for biodiversity and how to develop strategies for funding. There
was a great deal of discussion about the balance between continuing
to develop species lists and taxonomies versus looking at biodiversity
in terms of impacts or at a higher level of system ---- the move
from a species to an ecosystem focus. The policy makers are pushing
toward the latter. This is true in most of the countries that
were represented in the discussion. The point was well made that
the researchers will move to where money becomes available, although
this movement is sometimes slower than desired and is often painful.
Measures of habitat change is being offered as the variable against
which health of ecosystems can be monitored. The issue of economic
value is also a focal issue that policy makers must address.
Good metrics are needed.
The informal meetings with José Tundisi, Bráulio
Dias, Vanderlei Canhos, Dora Canhos, among others helped to understand
the excellent basis on which the Brazilians will take the lead
in hosting the international meeting on the Inter-American Biodiversity
Information Network (IABIN).
VALUE
For this attendee, the contacts with both the Brazilians and
the guest speakers was extremely beneficial. The briefing and
understanding of the Base de Dados Tropical (BDT) showed that
it will be very useful for input into developments for IABIN.
Respectfullly prepared,
Bonnie C. Carroll
Senior Consultant
United States Geological Survey/Biological Resources Division
Bonnie C. Carroll
President
Information International Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 4219
152 Ridgeway Center
Oak Ridge, TN 37831
Tele: 423/481-0388
Fax: 423/481-0390
Email: bcarroll@infointl.com
|
