B - Convention on Biological Diversity

secondary succession in the anthropogenic landscape has been described and differences in the compositions oftaxocenoses between various types of environments or geographic units have been characterized. It the future,scientific work should be concerned with better understanding of the historical roots and contemporary dynamicsof biodiversity at the level of genes, species, communities and ecosystems. Particularly the genetic level ofbiodiversity and its historical development have been studied quite inadequately to date.At the species level, there have been still a great many groups (especially among micro-organisms and fauna)about which even basic knowledge is not available in this country. In some cases, there is not even a reliablechecklist of species occurring. It seems that the difference in the amount of knowledge available for the intenselystudied and the neglected groups is becoming even greater.Research in communities and ecosystems should concentrate on better understanding of the ecological role ofthe individual species and their functional ecological groups. Special attention should be paid to invasive alienspecies that have recently been spreading in this country and whose numbers and infested areas are increasing(see the Invasive Alien Species chapter). Although a considerable attention has been paid to invasive alienspecies of flora and fauna in the CR in recent years, it must be stated that basic knowledge is not available foreven the common invasive vertebrates (e.g. the stone maroko or the North American mink) on their food strategyor the extent of predatory and competition pressure exerted in relation to the indigenous fauna.In addition to scientifically based research, Research and Development (R&D) projects are being carried outunder the auspices of ME, e.g. the programme “The Environment and Conservation of Natural Resources” and“The Landscape and Settlements of the Future”, financed from the budget of the Ministry. The main objectivesinclude provision for dynamic renewal and development of research capacities in the CR using all the potentialfor international cooperation. The National Research Programme for 2004 – 2009 points out the necessity ofimproving and developing the relationships of the public to research and development.Another activity is agricultural research primarily in plant or animal production and forestry. This consists ofin both basic and strategic and applied research concerned primarily with conservation and effective use ofnatural resources (genepool, soil, water) and the biological potential of agro-ecosystems or forest ecosystems.This research is also concerned with improving the characteristics (e.g. increasing the resistance) of plants oranimals, the quality and safety of foodstuffs, including evaluation of the benefits/risks connected with GMOs.This type of research is concentrated primarily at the level of species, provenance, varieties, etc. (see the GeneBank chapter).AI.II.III.IV.V.VI.VII.VIII.IX.X.XI.XII.The Czech National Bioplatform (founded on December 5, 2003 http://www.ibot.cas.cz/biop/index.htm) isa new activity in the a mutual communication between scientists and focused on biodiversity and researcherspolicy-makers. This is a part of the European Bioplatform (www.bioplatform.info) and is intended primarily forcommunication and dissemination of information at a national and international level (especially in the EU).III. Problem Issues1. The absence of a central data register on the distribution of species in the CR, effectively connected aninternational databases.2. Inadequate coordination and records of research in bioindications and monitoring, lack of uniformedmethodology.61