ABSTRACT
International cooperation in scientific research is essential for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. In particular, there is a growing need for global sharing of basic knowledge assets for scientific research, such as databases, biological research materials and research results in order to address complex issues of global concern, such as the impact of invasive species on biodiversity, global pandemics or the resilience of complex, coupled social–ecological systems. International efforts in this direction include online access to the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment organised by the United Nations Environment Programme, the Multilateral System for the exchange of seed germplasm established under the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, and the global marine database of the Census of Marine Life.
