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Danielsen, F.; Mendoza, M.M.; Alviola, P.; Belete, D.S.; Enghoff, M.; Poulsen, K.; Jensen, A.E.
Biodiversity monitoring in developing countries: what are we trying to achieve?
2003 Oryx (37): 407-409
In a stimulating review of biodiversity monitoring programmes, Yocoz et al 2001 recently concluded that many existing programmes suffer from two major design deficiencies: a lack of well-articulated objectives, and a neglect of different sources of error in the estimation of biological diversity. The paper was primarily devoted to the sources of data uncertainty. While we agree with the conclusion that substantial thought should be given to the question of design, and to "how", "what" and "why" to monitor, it is worth considering what we want to achieve by monitoring and, considering the socio-economic context, what is practically feasible. Design deficiencies that apply in developed countries may be irrelevant in some developing countries where the de facto day-to-day management of biological resources is largely in the hands of poor rural people and local authorities have virtually no operational funding.
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