The BCN and its Web Site - What's it All About?

The Biodiversity Conservation Network (BCN) is about putting conservation to work in the real world. We believe conservation can work on the ground if we do something about sustaining people's livelihoods. If the people who live and work in areas of great natural wealth can find a way to conserve that wealth and still make a living, these great forests, mountains, and reefs can be protected. A lot of people are hoping that nature-based local businesses are the way to stave off threats to biodiversity. We're not just hoping its true, we're putting it to the test.

BCN helps communities have a say in their future, make decisions about the land they live on, and build locally run enterprises that depend on the conservation of biodiversity. We are looking at these projects closely to discover if successful enterprises can really be a positive force in conservation. The results have been exciting -- in the last three years we've seen evidence that community enterprise projects are countering the immense threats that face these communities, such as large-scale logging and mining. But as you'll see, there are also many challenges. Starting a new business is a risky undertaking anywhere. Imagine the dedication and creativity of communities attempting to do this for the first time, far from the conveniences of the city, while withstanding constant pressure to use up or give up their land today at the expense of tomorrow.

Come see for yourself whether conservation is working. This website is your window on our work. Whether you've always wanted to go to places like the mountains of Sikkim, the forests of Sulawesi, or the reefs of the Solomn Islands, or you've never heard of them, here's your chance to learn about these fascinating places. We invite you to follow our progress and draw your own conclusions. Read the stories. Consider the analyses. Buy the products. Ask us questions. And tell us what you think.

Other New and Updated Features

Click on the following items to see what else is new.

• 1997 Annual Report - Getting Down To Business
• Measures of Sucess
• A discussion of the conceptual background behind the BCN
• A leading scientist discusses critical issues about biodiversity prospecting
• The Development of Bioprospecting Agreements in Fiji
• Bioprospecting and its Regulation by Government in Fiji
• The Role of a Fijian Community in a Bioprospecting Project

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