Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Foreword
- Introduction
- 1 Do we really care about biodiversity?
- Part I Causes of biodiversity loss
- Part II The value of biodiversity
- 9 Designing the legacy library of genetic resources: approaches, methods and results
- 10 Why the measurement of species diversity requires prior value judgements
- 11 Combining TCM and CVM of endangered species conservation programme: estimation of the marginal value of vultures (Gyps fulvus) in the presence of species–visitors interaction
- 12 Valuing ecological and anthropocentric concepts of biodiversity: a choice experiments application
- 13 Spatially explicit valuation with choice experiments – a case of multiple-use management of forest recreation sites
- Part III Policies for biodiversity conservation
- Part IV Managing agro-biodiversity: causes, values and policies
- Index
- References
9 - Designing the legacy library of genetic resources: approaches, methods and results
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 11 August 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of figures
- List of tables
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgements
- Foreword
- Introduction
- 1 Do we really care about biodiversity?
- Part I Causes of biodiversity loss
- Part II The value of biodiversity
- 9 Designing the legacy library of genetic resources: approaches, methods and results
- 10 Why the measurement of species diversity requires prior value judgements
- 11 Combining TCM and CVM of endangered species conservation programme: estimation of the marginal value of vultures (Gyps fulvus) in the presence of species–visitors interaction
- 12 Valuing ecological and anthropocentric concepts of biodiversity: a choice experiments application
- 13 Spatially explicit valuation with choice experiments – a case of multiple-use management of forest recreation sites
- Part III Policies for biodiversity conservation
- Part IV Managing agro-biodiversity: causes, values and policies
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
Of the many ways in which biodiversity might be conceptualised, one of the most important is as the diversity of the set of genetic resources (see also Chapters 21 and 23 in this volume). The diversity of the set of genetic resources refers to the amount of information contained within biological systems, commonly assessed at the level of genes. The ‘resource’ aspect arises out of the fact that biologically sourced information is a key input into research and development (R&D) processes that are used to address problems important to society. The life science sector, for instance, uses this information in order to conduct research on problems in both the agricultural and the health sectors.
The idea that biodiversity may contain information on how to find new sources of pharmaceuticals, crops, etc. has been present in the genetic resources valuation literature from its very beginnings (Oldfield 1989). Equally present has been the recognition that the R&D options available in genetic resources are lost as the genetic base is narrowed (Swanson 1995, 1993). There is a long-recognised importance placed by economists on the retention of genetic resources for the performance of useful R&D and the issues surrounding the management of this resource for this function (Brown and Swierzbinski 1988).
The question of how to manage the informational values inherent within genetic resources may be asked in various ways. One particularly instructive analogy is the maintenance of the collection of all previously published written works within a library (Weitzman 1998).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Biodiversity EconomicsPrinciples, Methods and Applications, pp. 271 - 292Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2007