Biodiversity: gaps in knowledge

The Convention on Biological Diversity set conservation of biodiversity on the world agenda. Gaps in knowledge need to be addressed for actions to be effective and sustainable. Gaps include: species diversity, micro-organisms and their ecological roles, ecological and geographical status of species, human capacity to assess and forecast bio-ecological degradation. Requirements for global inventories call for worldwide collaboration. Criteria for setting priorities need to be formulated and agreed.Biodiversity in an eco-geographical region, the southern Mediterranean, is discussed as a case study. Outlines of national actions to contribute to world endeavor are outlined.