Biodiversity Information Network 21 (BIN21)

BIN21's purpose is to support the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Agenda 21 that followed the Earth Summit at Rio, June 1992. It will do this "by facilitating efficient access to information relating to all aspects of biodiversity. It will underpin the study of biodiversity, as well as its monitoring, management, use, conservation and preservation. By establishing links to many data resources it will lead to the better use of information. It will promote the concept of biodiversity and encourage the development of databases and networks, so stimulating and supporting scientific development and conservation." BIN21 is designed as a distributed network: a series of participating "nodes". Any site on the network can point to the BIN21, but to become a Node, a site must contribute to the network's functions by adopting BIN21's standards and protocols for relevant activities.

Information resources include:

(a) WWW site: with information on BIN21, thematic and geographically arranged links to resources elsewhere. Some of this data also appears (or is linked to) by the WWW/gopher sites of other members of the network

(b) Biodiv-l discussion list is associated with this resource (see separate entry).

(c) Bin-Tech discussion list: technical discussion on network

(d) Bin-Reach discussion list: BIN21 community networking and outreach discussion list