Workshop to Launch the CIFOR and ICRAF Biodiversity Platform 2nd - 5th March 2006: CIFOR Headquarters, Bogor and Happy Valley (GG House), Ciawi, Bogor, Indonesia

This workshop was the launching event of the joint CIFOR-ICRAF Biodiversity Platform. Its objectives were i) to share expertise and experiences to give the Platform a large and solid ground, ii) to get a common understanding of what the Platform should be and where it should go (with targeted outcomes and outputs) and iii) to design the first research project of the Platform. 30 scientists from both institutions joined hands to define common objectives and to discuss the framework and potential operational modes of the Biodiversity Platform. In addition to an interesting and important set of innovative ideas, research questions and gaps, it resulted in an agreed set of goals, objectives and principles and the Biodiversity Platform is now officially launched . CIFOR and ICRAF committed to include the joint initiative in their respective Medium-Term Plans. The CIFOR-ICRAF Biodiversity Platform will focus on biodiversity issues in multifunctional landscape mosaics . Both institutions intend to take advantage of their perceived objectivity to address issues related to the combination of conservation and development interests. An emphasis is put on local people’s perspectives but the guiding principle is to work with multiple stakeholders and at different governance levels. The centres have the staffing capacity to undertakeinter-disciplinary research encompassing biophysical, socio-economic and policy issues. They can thus rigorously address issues of “people and biodiversity”, while also focusing on issues, such as cross-sectoral influences on land use, that are not addressed in many sector- specific research institutions.

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