B - Convention on Biological Diversity

IX. Research Biodiversity StrategyI. IntroductionAccording to CBD, support for and stimulation of research contributing to the conservation and sustainable useof the components of biodiversity is an important step towards the biodiversity conservation. Although researchin the area of biodiversity has been constantly developing, it is necessary to improve its scientifi c basis andincrease support, as research information constitutes the basic condition for biodiversity conservation. Thereis insufficient interconnection between biodiversity research, the development of methods of conservation andsustainable use of biological resources and practical management in the landscape. This entire subject area liesmainly within the scope of the natural sciences; however, because it is not possible to ignore the fundamentalimpact of man on biodiversity, it is important not to loose sight of the economic and social aspects of thesubject.It is a great challenge to the scientific community to be able to provide results that can form the basis for makingolitical decisions (e.g. providing access to the results of research for non-professional users) and that can beused for sustainable use of biodiversity at all levels, from the local or national to the global. For this process, itis important:1) to commence high-quality, balanced, inter-sectoral cooperation, so that it is possible to formulate and resolvequestions related to biodiversity in its total complexity. This cooperation should realistically formulate questionsfrom identification of the extent and composition of biodiversity to management of biodiversity in the broadestsense of the word;2) to modify or treat the results of research so that they constitute generally applicable information (flexibledatabase), corresponding to the requirements of nature conservation and management and that can also be usedfor the work of the bodies of the state administration and for policy decisions in general;3) provide this information for policy decision-making or to other sectors and factors;4) increase intersectoral cooperation of ME, MRD and MA under the conditions in the CR.II. Current ConditionsResearch in biological diversity in the Czech Republic is based on a long tradition and on well-establishedinstitutions concerned with development of scientific knowledge (universities, scientific institutions of theAcademy of Sciences of the CR) and on storage of documents of local flora and fauna (museums, botanicalgardens, scientific collections). Individual projects are financed by the Grant Agency of the CR and other sources.However, there is no framework programme concerned exclusively with biodiversity, in spite of repeated attemptsto establish the National Centre for Biodiversity Research through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sportsprogrammes.Current scientific knowledge on biological diversity in the Czech Republic has concentrated mainly on flora andfauna research, leading to the preparation and improvements of lists of species, knowledge of the their distributionrange and basic habitat requirements on habitat. This type of research has also led to diverse monitoringprogrammes. The structures of various guilds assemblages and communities have been studied, the character of60