What are the scientific challenges of biodiversity conservation and utilization in the ACP region?
The root causes of the failure to effectively conserve and utilize biodiversity reflect a complex combination of many factors but consideration of the scientific challenges point to a number of solutions. The multidisciplinary nature of biodiversity conservation and use requires expertise in a wide range of areas including taxonomy, ecological engineering, chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacology and advanced biotechnology. Building the scientific expertise is of extreme importance to support the type of coordinated research programmes that are needed to achieve maximum benefits from biodiversity and contribute to wealth and job creation and improved health. The brain drain in the ACP region and the limited capacity to train and retain skilled human resources are exacerbated by inadequate infrastructure and incentives, further reducing the pool of human resources available to harness biodiversity for the optimum benefit of the ACP region. Conservation In the ACP region there is a signific
