Mission

To promote taxonomy via local partnerships so that countries can build the capacities needed know and identify the organisms that constitute and threaten their biodiversity and address their sustainable development and conservation priorities.

Vision

A world in which taxonomic expertise, resources, tools and information are rapidly and locally accessible in forms appropriate for meeting conservation, agriculture, trade, health and other sustainable development needs.

It is concerned with helping developing countries to recognise and know the organisms that constitute and threaten their biodiversity, not for taxonomy`s own sake, but rather to support national programmes for sustainable agricultural development, and conservation and sustainable use of the environment.

Training

- Rehabilitation and resourcing of biological and literature collections.
- Information and communications.
- Introduction and application of appropriate new technologies.
- Sustainable functioning of the LOOP

LOOPs strive to transcend sectoral boundaries in their activities and communications. Key to their approach is the engagement of end-users from biodiversity, agriculture, quarantine, plant health, conservation, biosafety and other areas in partnerships with taxonomists. Activities depend on insitutional, government and donor commitments and funding.