Diversitas
Diversitas (Latin for “diversity”) is an international program that aims to intertwine the study of biological diversity ( biodiversity ) and human well-being.
The international secretariat is in Paris . It is housed by the French National Museum of Natural History - Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle (MNHN), while the offices of the core projects are located in different countries.
The program was established to address the complex scientific questions raised by the loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services and to provide scientifically based solutions to this crisis. The program is an international program with a twofold mission:
- Promotion, support and implementation of integrative biodiversity research that combines biological, ecological and social science disciplines
- Providing a solid scientific basis for (political) decision-making, which ensures the preservation of the diversity of life on earth, while at the same time contributing to human well-being and the reduction of poverty .
The goals are to be achieved through:
- Maintaining a holistic network of renowned biodiversity researchers who are dedicated to the main problems of biodiversity science;
- Gaining new knowledge through the exchange between scientists across national and disciplinary boundaries;
- Bringing together the latest findings in biodiversity research to deal with global scientific priorities;
- Ensuring / ensuring effective engagement of the global scientific community with politicians and decision-makers, especially with the relevant international conventions.
- Development of biodiversity research competence by promoting young scientists worldwide.
Historical development of Diversitas
Phase 1 (1991–2001): Biodiversity receives more attention worldwide
Diversitas was founded in 1991 by three international organizations: United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization (UNESCO), SCOPE ( Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment ) and IUBS ( International Union of Biological Science ). It was at this time that the need to address complex scientific issues raised by the loss and change of global biodiversity became apparent. The aim of the initiative was to develop an international, non-governmental umbrella program for research projects.
In 1996 two new sponsors, ICSU ( International Council for Science ) and IUMS ( International Union of Microbiological Societies ) were won.
The main knowledge gained in the first decade has been summarized in a series of books. These formed the basis for further experimental and theoretical research, carried out together with the International Geosphere-Biosphere Program (IGBP). Similarly, the results of research carried on Global Biodiversity Assessment in an initiative of the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the work of the Convention on Biological Diversity (the Convention on Biological Diversity, Eng. Convention on Biological Diversity, CBD). Diversitas has a cooperation agreement with the CBD.
Phase 2 (2002–2011): An international framework for biodiversity sciences
In 2001 Diversitas consulted all stakeholders worldwide about the need to initiate a second phase of the program. The results of the consultation spoke in favor of a second phase that should be more integrative, interdisciplinary and policy-relevant.
The new research plan was published in 2002. In order to implement this, nine projects were launched, which encompass a circle of discovery, observation, analysis and information exchange with regard to overarching scientific questions on biodiversity and related ecosystem services:
- Global Invasive Species Program (GISP) - The aim of the project is the prevention of the spread and the management of invasive species
- Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) - The aim of the project is to research and deepen knowledge about montane biodiversity
- bioGENESIS - The aim of the project is the development of an evolutionary scientific framework for the biodiversity sciences
- bioDISCOVERY - The aim of the project is to estimate, observe and predict changes in biological diversity
- ecoSERVICES - The aim of the project is to research the relationships between biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services
- bioSUSTAINABILITY - The aim of the project is the development of adaptive governance and management guidelines for the use of ecosystem services
- agroBIODIVERSITY - The aim of the project is to create a scientific program in favor of the sustainable use of agro-ecosystems
- ecoHEALTH - The aim of the project is to research the connections between biodiversity and emerging infectious diseases
- freshwaterBIODIVERSITY - The aim of the project is to create a biodiversity-scientific program for the benefit of sustainable freshwater ecosystems
In addition to working on the research projects, Diversitas was an important partner in the Earth System Science Partnership (ESSP). The ESSP is a collaboration for integrative research into the Earth system, the way it changes, and its impact on global and regional sustainability. In this second phase, the organization continued its engagement in the service of political forums, in particular with the Convention on Biological Diversity . In October 2005 Diversitas hosted the first Open Science Conference in Oaxaca , Mexico. There the scientific community reaffirmed its support for the creation of a scientific body on biodiversity, which should contain an intergovernmental component (cf. International Mechanism of Scientific Expertise on Biodiversity (IMoSEB)). The second Open Science Conference, held in Cape Town, South Africa, in October 2009, drew an international audience of 700 scholars and policy makers from over 70 countries representing many facets of biodiversity science and politics.
Phase 3 (2012–2020): Biodiversity and ecosystem services for a sustainable planet
Since 2009, and in light of changes in the biodiversity policy environment, Diversitas has been reviewing its activities and revising the 2002 research plan . The revised Diversitas Science Plan was published in 2012. During this ongoing phase was heavily involved in the following activities:
- the establishment of a global observation system for biological diversity, called GEO BON (Group on Earth Observations - Biodiversity Observation Network). GEO BON is the biodiversity component of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) under the leadership of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO),
- the consultation on the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services ( IPBES ), which was launched in April 2012,
- the launch of a new Future Earth scientific initiative : research on sustainability launched during Rio + 20,
- the “Planet Under Pressure” conference in London in 2012, and
- the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development in 2012 ( United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development , also known as) Rio + 20 conference.
Diversitas was terminated in 2014 and partially transferred to Future Earth .
Diversitas Germany e. V.
The association is primarily committed to combining biodiversity research with socially relevant problems of the protection and sustainable use of biodiversity. Its main goals include supporting science and research as well as training young scientists. From a joint initiative of today's association, the Museum für Naturkunde Berlin and the Helmholtz Center for Environmental Research , the Network Forum Biodiversity Research Germany emerged with funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research NeFo .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Diversitas website - About: mission and history . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ UNESCO - Biodiversity research, monitoring and management . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ IUBS - Diversitas . Archived from the original on June 2, 2013. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ ICSU - Diversitas: An International Program of Biodiversity Science . Retrieved on April 11, 2013. ( Page no longer available , search in web archives ) Info: The link was automatically marked as defective. Please check the link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.
- ^ IGBP Partners . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ CBD - Partnership Agreements . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ Diversitas Science Plan Phase 2: 2002-2011 . Archived from the original on April 16, 2012. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and not yet checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ Global Invasive Species Program . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ bioGENESIS . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ bioDISCOVERY . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ ecoSERVICES . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ bioSUSTAINABILITY . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ agroBIODIVERSITY . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ ecoHEALTH . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ freshwater BIODIVERSITY . Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ ESSP Partners . Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ↑ Anne et alii Larigauderie: Biodiversity and ecosystem services science for a sustainable planet: the Diversitas vision for 2012–20 (PDF; 185 kB) Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, Elsevier. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ GEO Participating Organizations . Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Info: The archive link was automatically inserted and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
- ^ IPBES and the Scientific Community . Archived from the original on May 18, 2015. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved April 11, 2013.
