European projects

Title

Outline

Information

BioCASE: A Biological Collection Access Service for Europe

Establishment of a web-based information service providing researchers with unified access to biological collections in Europe while leaving control of the information with the collection holders.

http://www.biocase.org/

ENBI (European Network for Biodiversity Information)

The main objective of ENBI is to establish a strong European network for making primary biodiversity data accessible through an integrated shared information infrastructure.

http://www.enbi.info/

EPGRIS (European Plant Genetic Resources Information Infrastructure)

Establishment of a European Search Catalogue (EURISCO) with passport information of Plant

Genetic Resources maintained ex situ in Europe.

http://www.ecpgr.cgiar.org/epgris/

Euro+Med PlantBase: The Information Resource for Euro-Mediterranean Plant Diversity

Provision of an on-line database and information system for the vascular plants of Europe and the Mediterranean region, against an up-to-date and critically evaluated consensus taxonomic core of the species concerned.

http://www.euromed.org.uk/

European Platform for Biodiversity

A Thematic Network which aims to improve the effectiveness and relevance of European biodiversity research, to contribute to European Research Area for Biodiversity and to promote the dissemination of current best practices and information regarding the scientific understanding of biodiversity conservation.

http://www.bioplatform.info/

The MEDUSA Network: Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Region

The identification of native and naturalised plants of the Mediterranean Region, according to use categories; creation of a Regional Information System; preliminary evaluation of the conservation status and potential utilisation in agriculture.

http://medusa.maich.gr

European organisations and networks

ECP/GR (European Cooperative Programme for Crop Genetic Resources Networks)

A collaborative programme among most European countries aimed at ensuring the long term conservation and facilitating the increased utilization of plant genetic resources in Europe.

http://www.ecpgr.cgiar.org/

EEA (European Environment Agency)

The EEA's core task is to provide decision-makers with the information needed for making sound and effective policies to protect the environment and support sustainable development.

http://www.eea.eu.int/

EUCARPIA (European Association for Reserach on Plant Breeding)

EUCARPIA aims to promote scientific and technical co-operation in the field of plant breeding in order to foster its further development.

http://www.eucarpia.org/

European Commission Community Research: Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development (EESD)

One of the four thematic programmes of the Fifth (EC) RTD Framework Programme (1998-2002).  PGR Forum is funded under this programme.

http://www.cordis.lu/eesd/home.html

Planta Europa

Planta Europa is a network of non-government and government organisations working to conserve the wild plants, both higher and lower, of Europe and their habitats.

http://www.plantaeuropa.org/

IPGRI Regional Office for Europe

Provides advice to countries needing help in establishing and managing national genetic resources programmes.

International organisations, networks and projects

BGCI (Botanic Gardens Conservation International)

Works to educate and promote conservation awareness and sustainablity by providing technical guidance, data and support for Botanic Gardens in over 150 countries worldwide.

http://www.bgci.org.uk/

Global Facilitation Unit for Underutilized Species

Created to ease and increase information and knowledge exchange in the field of underutilized and neglected species.

http://www.underutilized-species.org/Default.htm

IPGRI (International Plant Genetic Resources Institute)

An international research institute with a mandate to advance the conservation and use of genetic diversity for the well-being of present and future generations. It is a Centre of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR).

http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/

IUCN Red List Programme

Coordinates the production of the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, which provides taxonomic, conservation status and distribution information on taxa that have been evaluated using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria.

http://redlist.org/

IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC)

The SSC is a science-based network of some 7,000 volunteer experts from almost every country of the world, all working together towards achieving the vision of "A world that values and conserves present levels of biodiversity."

http://www.iucn.org/themes/ssc/

In situ conservation of crop wild relatives through enhanced information management and field application

A UNEP/GEF PDF B Project linking countries and international conservation agencies.

http://www.ipgri.cgiar.org/themes/in_situ_project/wild_relatives/gef.htm

Data sources/portals

Title

Function

Information

BIG (Federal Information System on Genetic Resources)

Integrates relevant data on genetic resources for cultivated and wild flora in Germany by establishing a set of related internet databases.

http://www.big-flora.de/index_e.html

Crop Wild Relative Information System (CWRIS)

The PGR Forum Crop Wild Relative Information System (CWRIS) is one of the products of the European Crop Wild Relative Diversity Assessment and Conservation Forum (PGR Forum), funded by the European Community Fifth Framework Programme for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development.

The system contains:

• A searchable catalogue of crops and crop wild relatives of Europe and the Mediterranean region

• An information management model for crop wild relative data, illustrated with a number of case studies, and with an accompanying XML schema

http://www.pgrforum.org/cwris/cwris.asp

ePIC (Electronic plant information centre)

A data portal providing links to IPNI (International Plant Names Index), Kew Record of Taxonomic Literature, and SEPASAL.

http://www.kew.org/epic/index.htm

EUNIS (European Nature Information System)

The EUNIS Database web application provides access to publicly available data in a consolidated database.
The information includes:

• Data on Species, Habitats and Sites compiled in the framework of NATURA2000 (EU Habitats and Birds Directives),

• Data collected from frameworks, data sources or material published by ETC/BD (formerly the European Topic Centre for Nature Conservation).

• Information on Species, Habitats and Sites taken into account in relevant international conventions or from International Red Lists.

• Specific data collected in the framework of the EEA's reporting activities, which also constitute a core set of data to be updated periodically.

http://eunis.eea.eu.int/

EURISCO (European Internet Search Catalogue)

Ex situ holdings of European PGR, including information on:

• Institute name and country

• Number of accessions

• Collecting location and source

• Sample status.

The MEDUSA Network: Conservation and Sustainable Use of Wild Plants of the Mediterranean Region

The identification of native and naturalised plants of the Mediterranean Region, according to use categories; creation of a Regional Information System; preliminary evaluation of the conservation status and potential utilisation in agriculture.

http://medusa.maich.gr

Plant Conservation in European Countries

Provides contacts, information and web links on plant conservation throughout Europe.

http://www.plant-talk.org/country/index.html