Blogs

Interesting blog post on the use of Facebook social media to mobilise peer networks on taxonomic triaging for Guyanan fish by Smithsonian Scientists.

CBD secretariat has produced a good overview of REDD+, Biodiversity and Livelihoods with German collaboration.  REDD+ is Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest degradation in Developing countries - bringing together action on climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development, involving a wide range of stakeholders, including business. 

BBC has launched a ladybird survey website with interactive keys and reporting - ties in with the long running NERC Centre for Ecology and Hydrology CEH ladybird initiative.  Interesting to compare this citizen science intiative involving the public in recording with the previous post on ScienceWise where citizen science is very much about public participation in discussion on the social implications or application of science.

FAO has published the State of the World's Forests 2011 - a region-by-region and issue-based assessment of status and trends.

Article on an argument on the naming a species of antpitta (a bird).  A complex mixture of NGO/science politics, precedence in naming, whether to collect or not, the nature of holotypes, recognition of benefactors and other issues. Feathers are flying over Colombian bird name flap Science 4 March 2011:Vol. 331 no. 6021 1123-1124 DOI: 10.1126/science.331.6021.1123