Editorial: Preface

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (Rio de Janeiro, 1992) agreed that humans are leading numerous species to extinction and a variety of habitats to destruction, which must therefore be conserved for reasons of ethics, economic benefit, and human survival. Following the presentation of the main goals of the CBD (conservation of biological diversity; sustainable use of biological resources; fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources), an increased awareness of the exploration of biodiversity was achieved, since it is practically impossible to conserve and manage nature without having the essential relevant biological knowledge. In this manner, any conservation action is clearly and strictly dependent on taxonomical inventories.