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Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY V4.0, Open
Journal article
Widespread support for a global species list with a formal governance system
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol.120(45)
07/11/2023
PMID: 37903262
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Taxonomic data are a scientific common. Unlike nomenclature, which has strong governance institutions, there are currently no generally accepted governance institutions for the compilation of taxonomic data into an accepted global list. This gap results in challenges for conservation, ecological research, policymaking, international trade, and other areas of scientific and societal importance. Consensus on a global list and its management requires effective governance and standards, including agreed mechanisms for choosing among competing taxonomies and partial lists. However, governance frameworks are currently lacking, and a call for governance in 2017 generated critical responses. Any governance system to which compliance is voluntary requires a high level of legitimacy and credibility among those by and for whom it is created. Legitimacy and credibility, in turn, require adequate and credible consultation. Here, we report on the results of a global survey of taxonomists, scientists from other disciplines, and users of taxonomy designed to assess views and test ideas for a new system of taxonomic list governance. We found a surprisingly high degree of agreement on the need for a global list of accepted species and their names, and consistent views on what such a list should provide to users and how it should be governed. The survey suggests that consensus on a mechanism to create, manage, and govern a single widely accepted list of all the world’s species is achievable. This finding was unexpected given past controversies about the merits of list governance.
Details
- Title
- Widespread support for a global species list with a formal governance system
- Creators
- Aaron M. Lien - University of ArizonaOlaf Banki - Species 2000, LeidenSaroj K Barik - North-Eastern Hill University (Shillong, India)John S Buckeridge - RMIT UniversityLeslie Christidis - Southern Cross UniversityMaría Marta Cigliano - Universidad Nacional de La PlataStijn Conix - UCLouvainMark John Costello - Nord UniversityDonald Hobern - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationPaul M Kirk - Royal Botanic Gardens, KewAndreas Kroh - Natural History Museum ViennaNarelle Montgomery - Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (Canberra, ACT)Svetlana Nikolaeva - Natural History MuseumThomas M. Orrell - National Museum of Natural History (Washington, DC)Richard L Pyle - Bernice Pauahi Bishop MuseumLauren Raz - Universidad Nacional de ColombiaKevin Thiele - Australian National UniversityScott A Thomson - Centro de Estudos Dos Quelônios da AmazôniaPeter Paul van Dijk - Global Wildlife ConservationNina Wambiji - Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research InstituteAnthony Whalen - Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research OrganisationFrank E Zachos - Natural History Museum ViennaZhi-Qiang Zhang - Manaaki Whenua – Landcare ResearchStephen T Garnett - Charles Darwin University
- Publication Details
- Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol.120(45)
- Publisher
- National Academy of Sciences
- Identifiers
- 991013143311402368
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by PNAS. This open access article is distributed under Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC BY).
- Academic Unit
- Office of Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article