XVI International Botanical Congess

The paper provides rationale and ideas for a Global Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) system for biological diversity. Salient features of biological diversity, past evolution and current trends are presented. Issues related to design of global M&E system are then taken. Key requirements identified viz. simple, geo-referenced and dynamic structure which would permit an aggregation of data in a political as well as ecosystem and study of alternative courses of international action to conserve unique biological diversity.Finally, institutional aspects of M&E are discussed. FAO Forest Resources Assessment Program is identified as an appropriate host, which could add on the needs of global biological diversity monitoring and evaluation with special reference to forests. Later, the system could be expanded to cover all land-based systems.