Abstract for presentation at Biodiversity Extinction Crisis Conference - A Pacific Response

Bioprospecting is the exploration of biodiversity for novel resources of economic and social value. While the pharamceutical industry is widely regarded as being the most active in this field, a wide variety of industries, including agriculture, construction and engineering are increasingly involved. Bioprospecting is now so widespread and diverse that: 1) New products are being generated from microorganisms, animals and plants sourced from many kinds of ecosystems so that, to date, no one ecosystem appears to be an more valuable than another. 2) Ecologically and evolution-driven methods of bioprospecting are opening new fields of exploration and increasing the efficiency of established ones. 3)The conservation of biodiversity which is the raw material for bioprospecting is being recognised as having an economic value well beyond current perceptions. 4) Bioprospecting and biodiversity conservation are operationally inseparable.