Supplementary memorandum submitted by
Defra
4. UK BRAG also submits that there is little
recognition for systematics in EU Framework Programmes. RBG Kew
submits that EU funding is mostly focussed on networking and not
on delivering projects. If systematics could be more successful
as large-scale science, is more delivery-focussed and capacity-directed
funding an issue that the Government should be taking up at EU
level?
4.1 We consider the current EU Framework
Programme for Research & Technological Development (FP7) to
be an improvement on the previous FP6 now that the environment
has its own dedicated theme (which includes biodiversity as a
priority activity), and agriculture and fisheries research have
both been re-introduced into a major theme. The funding available
for research is also expected to increase by approximately 40
per cent from 2010. As a member of the programme committees for
both the "Environment" and the "Food, Agriculture
and Fisheries, and Biotechnology" themes Defra plays an active
role, alongside the science community, industry and other stakeholders,
in the development of the annual work programmes, aiming for the
inclusion of UK priorities.
4.2 In its written evidence RBG Kew stated
(para 5.2.2) that most funding for [international] collaboration,
at least at European level, is focused on networking rather than
research. In fact, the bulk of funding in the Framework Programme
is allocated to collaborative research in the European Research
Area and wider. The Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology
theme and the Environment theme each have approximately €2
billion of funding across 2007-13 for collaborative research.
4.3 Having said that, support for networking
is vital and the EU is funding projects such as the Network of
Excellence, EDIT (European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy),
that (over five years from 2006) is aiming to reduce fragmentation
in European taxonomic research and expertise and to coordinate
the European contribution to the global taxonomic effort. Another
EU funded project, SYNTHESIS (Synthesis of systematic resources),
aims to create an integrated European infrastructure for researchers
in the natural science through the collaboration of 20 European
natural history museums and botanic gardens, and is led by the
Natural History Museum in London.
4.4 The establishment of effective networks
should put the research community in a better position in the
face of a very high level of competition for funding under FP7,
both in terms of influencing the European Commission during the
development of work programmes, in establishing the priorities
to be addressed, and in forming the relationships necessary to
build effective consortia that include organisations from across
Europe (and wider).
4.5 BRAG is correct about the place of systematics
in the FP insofar as the Framework Programmes focus not on disciplines,
but on the need to address major challenges and to support the
development and implementation of policy, including the objectives
of international treaties. In reality there are more opportunities
than might be immediately apparent for research engaging the disciplines
of systematics and taxonomy. Recent examples include the UK (CSL)
as a lead partner in a consortium bidding for FP7 funding for
a project on DNA bar-coding of statutory plant health pests &
diseases. UK partners are also involved in an Austrian-led proposal,
under the FP7 Capacities Programme, to support taxonomic skills
in the EU.
4.6 Phytosanitory research includes an important
element related to the identification of plant pests and diseases.
Defra has been successful in winning Framework Programme funding
to lead an European Research Area Network (ERA-NET) to coordinate
the national phytosanitary research programmes of 24 organisations
across 17 European countries. By coordinating the research activities
of the funding organisations, and developing common research agenda,
we should be able to get better value from the research funding
available. The UK is also active in a number of other EU networks
such as the Mycology and whitefly networks.
6. The most important environmental issues,
such as assessing the impact of climate change on ecosystem services,
are global in scale. How can the global requirements for leadership
in the provision of taxonomic training and research outputs be
factored into consideration of national capability?
6.1 Governments, through the Convention
on Biological Diversity, have acknowledged the existence of a
"taxonomic impediment" to the sound management of biodiversity,
and have developed the Global Taxonomic Initiative to remove or
reduce the impediment.
6.2 The Global Taxonomic Initiative (GTI)
was created to remove or reduce the "taxonomic impediment".
The GTI has been established by the Conference of the Parties
(COP) to address the lack of taxonomic information and expertise
available in many parts of the world, and thereby to improve decision-making
in conservation, sustainable use and equitable sharing of the
benefits derived from genetic resources. This is the first time
in history that taxonomy has had recognition at such a high level
in international policy.
6.3 As part of its responsibility for implementing
the GTI, the UK carried out a taxonomic needs assessment between
2004 and 2006. The scope of the needs assessment was broadened
beyond strictly taxonomic needs to include wider needs that had
a taxonomic component, such as for surveillance and improved access
to distributional data. Many of these needs are being met through
existing initiatives such as the National Biodiversity Network,
the UK Biodiversity Research Advisory Group (BRAG) strategy for
non-native species research, and the surveillance and reporting
strategy being developed by JNCC. We do, however, recognise the
need for more follow up work on the strictly taxonomic priorities.
6.4 At the UK level, we have contributed
to the GTI through.
— national funding for the National
Biodiversity Network.
— 50 funded projects, which include
taxonomy as a main focus under the Darwin Initiative.
— funding under the WSSD Implementation
Fund for a project "Biodiversity needs assessment in Ghana",
which aimed to enable Ghanaian biodiversity bodies, funders and
taxonomists to target and prioritise taxonomic work and remove
the taxonomic impediment to meeting WSSD targets and CBD implementation.
— membership of and funding for GBIF,
which constitutes an essential step forward in global systematics
(naming and classifying species; and organising information) in
related biodiversity and ecological research, and in applied uses
including decision making for biodiversity conservation.
— support to both NHM (under the Darwin
Initiative) and RBG Kew (under core funding) provide input into
the Encyclopedia of Life which aims to provide an online database
for all 1.8 million species known to live on Earth
— funding to various projects (some
taxonomic) to UNEP WCMC who provide syntheses, analyses and dissemination
of global biodiversity knowledge, providing authoritative, strategic
and timely information for conventions, countries, organisations
and companies to use in the development and implementation of
their policies and decisions.
Question 8. The UK has a broad range of obligations
and commitments under various EU directives and UN Conventions.
These responsibilities extend to British Overseas Territories
many of which have high biodiversity. Is our taxonomic capability
strong enough to enable the UK to deliver on its EU and UN commitments?
Whose responsibility is it to maintain national capability in
taxonomy?
8.1 The UK Taxonomic Needs Assessment assessed
needs in relation to implementation of the CBD and EU Nature Directives
in the UK, and its Overseas Territories. It found that availability
of information was not sufficient in a number of areas, in particular,
in relation to habitat requirements and species distributions.
Within the UK, Defra and its delivery agencies have sought to
improve capability in these areas through investment in, for example,
the National Biodiversity Network.
8.2 Defra has also provided funding through:
— The Darwin Initiative, which focuses
on capacity building, to achieve real impact and legacy for biodiversity
conservation, it allows for the funding of experts from UK to
assist developing countries (including the British Overseas Territories)
in implementing their biodiversity commitments. Through the Darwin
Initiative, we have supported at least 50 global projects which
include taxonomy is a main focus—either developing or using
taxonomic knowledge.
— The International Sustainable Development
Fund (previously WIF) which has provided the Natural History Museum
with funding for the project "A biodiversity taxonomic needs
assessment in Ghana" which provided training to enable Ghanaian
biodiversity bodies, funders and taxonomists to address the taxonomic
impediment to meeting WSSD targets and CBD implementation.
— Grant in Aid to RBG Kew
— Project awards (some taxonomic) to
UNEP WCMC who provide syntheses, analyses and dissemination of
global biodiversity knowledge, providing authoritative, strategic
and timely information for conventions, countries, organisations
and companies to use in the development and implementation of
their policies and decisions
— MarLIN (the Marine Life Information
Network)
Funding under the Overseas Territories Environment
Programme (OTEP) assists the Overseas Territories to deliver their
Environment Charter commitments. Funding for OTEP comes from DFID
and FCO who each allocated £1.5 million for the OTEP for
the period 2003/4—2006/7; FCO has approved a further £469,000
per annum for OTEP for 07/08.
20 March 2008
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