NSW Biodiversity Research Network

["Meredith Peach" <Meredith.Peach@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au>]

The NSW Biodiversity Research Network has been established to facilitate 
communication and cooperation among stakeholders in research on biodiversity 
in NSW. These stakeholders include government, private and community 
organisations, and individuals - both those who do the research, and those 
who use the research.  Currently biodiversity research is coordinated to some 
extent within government agencies, but not across all research organisations. 
There is a need for more consultation among organisations before research 
programs are established, and for greater coordination of existing programs. 

One of our goals is to identify gaps and priorities for biodiversity research 
in NSW, and to outline these in an upcoming website and NSW Biodiversity 
Research Strategy document. Our website will also summarise and link the 
research of relevant organisations, and thus serve as a central point of 
reference for biodiversity researchers and students in NSW. We also aim to 
form enduring links among people, by providing opportunities for 
communication, such as an electronic mailing list, newsletters, and meetings 
or mini-symposia. The outcomes will be increased awareness of biodiversity 
research priorities among stakeholders, better coordination of biodiversity 
research and funding bids across agencies, and an improved basis for 
biodiversity management and conservation in NSW.

The initiative for this Network arose out of the NSW Biodiversity Strategy 
(hard copy published by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, 1999; 
available online at http://www.npws.nsw.gov.au/services/index.html). The 
Network Steering Committee now holds regular meetings of interested agency 
and university partners. Current and past members of the Steering Committee 
include representatives from National Parks and Wildlife Service, the 
Australian Museum, the Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, the University of 
Sydney, the University of Wollongong, Macquarie University, NSW Fisheries, 
the Department of Land and Water Conservation, CSIRO, the Zoological Parks 
Board, NSW Agriculture, and NSW State Forests. 

If you would like to get involved, or receive further information, please 
contact:

Meri Peach
NSW Biodiversity Research Network Coordinator
Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney, Mrs Macquaries Road, 
Sydney, NSW, 2000. 
Telephone: 2-9231 8159; Fax: 2-9251 4403
Email: Meredith.Peach@rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au