Biopolicy, Volume 1, Paper 1 (PY96001) August 3rd 1996
Online Journal, URL - http://www.bdt.org.br/bioline/py
Editorial
Barbara Kirsop^1, Tony O'Donnell^2
^1 Bioline Publications, Stainfield House, Stainfield, Bourne,
Lincs, UK PE10 0RS
biopol@biostrat.demon.co.uk
^2 Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science,
Faculty of Agriculture, University of Newcastle, Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, UK, NE1 7RU
tony.odonnell@ncl.ac.uk
Code Number: PY96001
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Now, as perhaps never before, we are acutely aware of the need
to conserve the earth's natural resources. In natural and
managed ecosystems, biological processes are integral to the
function and stability of the biosphere, making it essential
that biological resources are used and managed in an
ecologically sustainable manner.
As a result there has been a growing and vigorous global
debate on biological issues in government, in scientific,
legal and environmental societies, in commercial organisations
and in the media. Each day both the scientific and popular
press raise new issues: bovine spongiform encephalitis, a
breast cancer gene, the emergence of resistant strains to
tuberculosis, the patenting of genetically engineered
organisms, farmers' rights, the discovery of primitive life in
seemingly impossible environments and its potential for new
applications. The issues raised by these discoveries and
applications are not simple. All encompass many disciplines,
involve many players and are often made more complex by
scientific uncertainties.
A prime example of a development where biopolicy issues are
fundamental is the Convention on Biological Diversity. This
new legal instrument presents a series of obligations and
benefits to the signatories and impinges on the lives and work
of many groups, from taxonomists to lawyers, from farmers to
computer experts, from politicians to indigenous populations,
teachers and economists. It is clear that a great number of
policy issues will need to be addressed and that the debate
should be wide and authoritative. It is appropriate,
therefore, that the first paper to be published in this
journal focuses on specific aspects of the Convention.
With increasing global access to the Internet - it is
predicted that only 7 countries will remain without access to
the network by the end of the century - we are provided with a
powerful distribution mechanism that has the potential to
reach all who have an interest in biopolicy and to provide
equitable access to high quality information at the lowest
possible cost. The publishers, editors and editorial board of
Biopolicy have agreed that the journal will take full
advantage of the new technology by adopting an online-only
policy and by providing links to appropriate resources from
within the full text of papers. All documents published will
be peer-reviewed and formally archived to secure future
availability. All abstracts will be free and the cost of full
text and graphics of papers will be kept at a cost recovery
level.
The journal thus offers a means by which biopolicy
publications can be conveniently harnessed and distributed.
The potential of the Internet to link related documents,
provide access to databases from within a contribution, add
useful resources (links to relevant sites, a dedicated e-mail
service, a news facility, an address book) and simply link
authors with the user community, offers new and exciting
possibilities which will inevitably contribute to the
advancement of science and to political understanding and
cooperation.
The international editorial board looks forward with
anticipation to receiving contributions from all corners of
the world, that express all shades of opinion and offer all
manner of expertise. It is hoped that this journal will become
a major vehicle for broadening and informing global
discussions on biopolicy.
Published by Bioline Publications 1996
