As a member of the Advisory Panel of NATO's Science Program, "Science and Technology Policy and Organization (STPO)," the major sponsor of this ARW, and due to my professional and personal interest in the topic, I had the pleasure of participating in the Advanced Research Workshop (ARW) in Krakow 5-9 November 2002. The NATO Science Program attempts to have Panel representation at all major events. My interest in and understanding of the importance of biodiversity conservation are very much the result of six years (1995 - 2001) as a member and Chair of the Governing Board of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT). During.
