Biodiversity, sometimes simply understood as "diversity of species", is a specific quality of life on our planet, the dimensions and importance of which have just lately been fully realized. Today we know that "biological diversity is a global asset of incalculable value to present and future generations" (Kofi Annan). Biodiversity is spread unequally over the world: in fact, the main share of biological resources worldwide is harboured predominantly by the so-called developing countries in the tropics and sub tropics. Therefore, Biodiversity - A Challenge for Development Research and Policy was chosen as the title for an international conference which was held in Bonn in 1997 as one of the first major events organized by the then newly established North-South Centre for Development Research (ZEF) at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universitat Bonn (Germany). Since the ZEF, founded by the Senate of the University of Bonn in 1995, has played a central role in turning Bonn into a centre for international cooperation and North-South dialogue. The Centre is a product of the Bonn Berlin agreement of July 1994 which was adopted to offset the effects caused by the Parliament and much of the Government moving to Berlin. It fits in well with the double strategy to strengthen Bonn's position as an interna tional science arena and as an eminent place for development policy and the national and supranational agencies dealing with this issue.

Biodiversity - Is there a Second Chance?

Knotted Ropes, Rings, Lattices and Lace: Retrofitting Biodiversity into the Cultural Landscape
Teaching Sustainable Management of Renewable Resources
Marine Biodiversity - Thoughts on the Subjects and their Investigators
Aspects of Botanical Biodiversity in Southern African Arid Regions - An Outline of Concepts and Results
The Surumoni Project: The Botanical Approach Toward Gaining an Interdisciplinary Understanding of the Functions of the Rain Forest Canopy
Zonal Features of Phytodiversity under Natural Conditions and under Human Impact - a Comparative Survey
Fluctuations, Chaos and Succession in a Living Environment
Landscape Diversity - a Holistic Approach
Loss of Biodiversity in European Agriculture during the 20th Century
Traditional Use of Tropical Biodiversity in Melanesia
Science and Technology - Sustainable Economics (condensed version)
Biodiversity - Resource for New Products, Development and Self-Reliance
Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit Sharing
Bolivia is a Megadiversity Country and a Developing Country
Floristic Inventory of Bolivia - an Indispensable Contribution to Sustainable Development?
Richness and Utilization of Palms in Bolivia - some Essential Criteria for their Management
Diversity of Mammals in Bolivia
Geoecology and Biodiversity - Problems and Perspectives for the Management of Natural Resources of Bolivia's Forest and Savanna Ecosystems
Priorities for Conservation in Bolivia, Illustrated by a Continent-Wide Analysis of Bird Distributions
Amphibian Species Diversity in Bolivia
Land Use, Economy and the Conservation of Biodiversity of High-Andean Forests in Bolivia
Using Lake Titicaca's Biological Resources - Problems andAlternatives
Conservation of Biodiversity: a National Task
Friends of Nature Foundation (FAN Bolivia) - The Involvement of NGOs in Conservation in Bolivia
Development and Biodiversity Conservation in Bolivia - A Call for Research and Action
List of Contributors.