WELCOME to this e-Conference titled "European Support for Biodiversity Research in Developing Countries, and Mechanisms to Enhance International Collaboration and Co-Funding"

For detailed information (pdf)

RUNNING from Monday 22nd January to Friday 9th February 07

SPONSORED by by the BiodivERsA ERA-Net (www.eurobiodiversa.org) and the the European Platform for Biodiversity Research Strategy (www.epbrs.org)

SESSION 1a (Week 1). Existing biodiversity research activities and strategies of EU Member states in developing countries (Chair Gregor Laumann, DLR PT-UF, Bonn) (Week 1). E.g. Funding programmes of the 19 member agencies of BiodivERsA. Contributions from additional countries & development agencies. Project/ people databases. Classification tools. Management & evaluation methods. Existing international linkages. Sharing of facilities etc.

SESSION 1b (Week 1). Existing biodiversity research funded by the European Commission and other European agencies in developing countries (Chair Gerry Lawson, Research Councils UK) (Week 1). E.g. EU DG Research Programmes, EU Development Programmes, Opportunities for training, Results of CORDIS searches. Impact of the EU Biodiversity Action Plan for Economic and Development Cooperation and other strategies. Activities of GBIF, MAB-UNESCO etc.

SESSION 2 (Week 2). Priority topics for future biodiversity research in developing countries (Chair Jacques Weber, Institut Français de la Biodiversité, Paris)Existing priorities (e.g. Diversitas, EPBRS, CBD, MEA). Eliciting developing country priorities. Research/conservation/poverty-alleviation tensions etc.

SESSION 4. (Week 3) Mechanisms to improve collaboration between European funding agencies and engagement with developing country scientists (Chair Per Bakke Hansen, Research Council of Norway) Funding models. Aid & research agency agendas. Proposals for collaborative programmes. Innovative funding mechanisms. Training and staff exchanges. Best practice etc.