Abstract:
Species 2000 has the objective of enumerating all known species of
plants, animals, fungi and microbes on Earth as the baseline dataset
for studies of global biodiversity. It will also provide a simple
access point enabling users to link from here to other data systems
for all groups of organisms, using direct species-links. Users
worldwide will be able to verify the scientific name, status and
... classification of any known species through species checklist data
drawn from an array of participating databases.
The purpose of Species 2000 is to provide a uniform and validated
quality index of names of all known species for use as a practical
tool. The index will be used to provide an electronic baseline species
list for use in inventorying projects worldwide; the index for an
Internet gateway to species databases worldwide; a reference system
for comparison between inventories; a comprehensive worldwide
catalogue for checking the status, classification and naming of
species. The thrust of the Species 2000 plan is to create an array of
participant global species databases covering each of the major groups
of organisms.
Implementation of the Species 2000 programme involves forming a
"federation" of existing taxonomic databases: Species 2000;
stimulating the establishment of global species databases for all
groups of organisms, by accelerating the completion of existing
databases and developing new ones; working to an ultimate goal of
providing a computer-based index of all known species; developing
procedures to maintain the databases and to update the taxonomy;
cooperating with international nomenclatural authorities in
stabilizing nomenclature.
Information was taken from the Species 2000 web site:
http://www.species2000.org/aboutsp2000.html; The Species 2000
Programme was established by the International Union of Biological
Sciences (IUBS), in cooperation with the Committee on Data for Science
and Technology (CODATA) and the International Union of Microbiological
Societies (IUMS) in September 1994. It was subsequently endorsed by
the UNEP Biodiversity Work Programme 1996-1997, and associated with
the Clearing House Mechanism of the UN Convention on Biological
Diversity. 
