The Global Taxonomy Initiative

Results of the call for proposals 2004

 

Introduction

The purpose of the Global Taxonomy Initiative is to remove or reduce the 'taxonomic impediment' - in other words, the knowledge gaps in our taxonomic system, the shortage of trained taxonomists and curators, and the impact these deficiencies have on our ability to preserve biodiversity. 

To give impetus to some of these objectives, the Belgian Focal Point for the GTI (the Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences) works via calls for proposals. In 2004, it launched two calls for proposals:

1. Call for taxonomy-based individual and institutional capacity building projects
   This call was open to developing countries. Read the text of the call ...

2. Call for taxonomy-based research projects
   This call was open to research projects with included a RBINS promotor.

 

Taxonomy-based individual and institutional capacity building

The support is targeted to institutions or individuals from developing countries in need of taxonomic and curatorial training. Such training should invariably have a clearly identified output in terms of increased taxonomic and/or curatorial capacity for the developing country or its region.

The GTI focal point received more than 30 expressions of interest, 11 formal proposals, and, finally selected 8 projects. Budgetary constraints were among the reasons not to select more projects. 

The candidates cover a wide range of taxa or discipline of expertise (see below) and their backgrounds include researchers and technicians, as well as a person in charge of coordinating a taxonomic network. Duration of stay in Belgium ranges from one week to a little over a month.

Table: Candidates selected for the call in March 2004.

Name	Country	Taxon / discipline of expertise	Place of training in Belgium
SOIFA Ahmed Soilih	Comoros	Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers)	Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels) and Royal Museum of Central Africa (Tervuren)
YAHAYA Ibrahim	Comoros	Holothuroidea (sea cucumbers)	Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels) and Royal Museum of Central Africa (Tervuren)
DE MORAES PL Rodrigues	Brazil	Magnoliopsida (plants, focus on Lauraceae)	National Botanic Garden (Meise)
LUM Keng-Yeang	Malaysia (ASEANET)	Invertebrates and micro-organisms / Networking	Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels)
WETSI LOFETE Jean Lambert	DR Congo	Diptera (flies, mosquitoes, etc.), Lepidoptera (butterflies)	Royal Museum of Central Africa (Tervuren)
CUERVO PINEDA Delfina Naomi	Cuba	Acari (mites)	Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels)
NGEREZA Christine Fishaa	Tanzania	Pulmonata (snails and slugs)	Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences (Brussels)
GNAVOSSOU Desire	Benin	Diptera (flies, mosquitoes, etc.)	Royal Museum of Central Africa (Tervuren)

 

Taxonomy-based research projects

The support offered is seed money to initiate new capacity building initiatives within existing biodiversity research projects, or financial support to undergoing capacity building initiatives, in developing countries. 

Projects can be undertaken with other institutions and universities, but the promoter must be a RBINS researcher and the project must involve RBINS expertise.

Four projects were submitted, three of which were granted funding in 2004.

Table: Taxonomy-based research projects selected in 2004.

Title of the project	RBINS promotor	Partner country	Partner institution
Herpetological Species Richness and Community Structure on the Kaieteur National Park Tepui	G. Lenglet, Ph. Kok (Vertebrate Section)	Guyana	CEIBA Biological Center
Biodiversity assessment at three protected areas in northwest Cambodia	P. Grootaert (Entomology Department)	Cambodia	Sam Veasna Center for Wildlife Conservation (Siem Reap)
Training Program for the Study of Biodiversity and Management of Rodents and Shrews in Eastern Congo (Kisangani)	E. Verheyen (Vertebrate Section)	DR Congo	Laboratoire d'Ecologie et de Gestion des Resources Animales (University of Kisangani)

 

 

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