Regional Taxonomy Training Courses The ASEAN region is noted to
have a relatively low number of trained taxonomists vis-à-vis
its enormously abundant natural resources. The weakness of
taxonomic and systematic skills in the region is recognized as a
serious handicap to the efficient inventory, monitoring and
management of biological resources and conservation of
biological diversity. Thus, the majority of previous and current
taxonomic studies in the region are undertaken by foreign
scientists from Europe, US and Japan. The need for ASEAN to
develop and train its local scientists especially in the field
of taxonomy and systematics has prompted ARCBC, in collaboration
with the Research Centre for Biology, The Indonesian Institute
of Sciences and the National Natuurhistorisch Museum, Leiden
University to conduct two short-term regional training courses
in taxonomy in Bogor, Indonesia. These training courses were
designed to improve knowledge on plant and invertebrate taxonomy
among young scientists in the ASEAN