Page:How a scientific spat over how to name species turned into a big plus for nature.pdf/5

 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), take different taxonomic approaches to species they aim to protect.

We decided to work together. With funding from the IUBS, we held a workshop in February this year at Charles Darwin University to determine principles for devising a single, agreed global list of species.

The sparring scientists came together to develop agreed principles.

Participants came from around the world. They included taxonomists, science governance experts, science philosophers, administrators of the nomenclatural (naming) codes, and taxonomic users such as the creators of national species lists. The result is a draft set of ten principles that to us, represent the ideals of global science governance. They include that:
 * the species list be based on science and free from “non-taxonomic” interference
 * all decisions about composition of the list be transparent governance of the list aim for community support and use
 * the listing process encompasses global diversity while accommodating local knowledge.

The principles will now be discussed at international workshops of taxonomists and the users of taxonomy. We’ve also formed a working group to discuss how a global list might come together and