Biodiversity research and training program in Thailand

Biological diversity, or Biodiversity, has become a new catchword in Thailand in recent years. Biological diversity is the variety of life forms - microorganisms, plants, and animals including humans - at all levels of organization from genes to populations, species, ecological communities and ecosystems. Such diversity of life is a legacy of evolutionary processes over a long period of time. Tropical rain forests, including those occurring in Thailand, are rich in biological diversity. They are essential bioresources for human survival and well being in terms of building materials, clothing, food and medicines. These bioresources also provide us with novel genetic materials for development of modern biotechnology. Thai people have made use of these bioresources for their traditional ways of living in terms of indigenous knowledge throughout the long history of Thailand. However, Thailand has lost innumerable life forms as a large percentage of tropical rain forest and mangrove area has been destroyed due to human activities during the past 35 years of the national social and economic development plan. Such loss of biodiversity has tremendous effects on the productive lives of all living things including humans. Thus it is extremely urgent to put a great deal of effort into conservation of biological diversity for sustainable development for the benefit of future generations. In an attempt to make conservation and management of biodiversity possible, a basic knowledge of these living things and their biology is required for a better understanding of how to use biological resources in a sustainable manner. Therefore, a Special Program for Biodiversity Research and Training (BRT) has been established since November 1995 under the joint sponsorship of the Thailand Research Fund (TRF) and the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC). The BRT program supports basic research and training activities in tropical biology as well as studies on policy development and management of biodiversity in Thailand.