The Swedish Taxonomy Initiative

The Swedish Taxonomy Initiative

Sweden's biodiversity is much richer than previously thought. More than two thousand new species have been discovered since the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative (STI) was established. And there are many more to be found!

In 2002 SLU Swedish Species Information Centre (SSIC) was commissioned by the Swedish Parliament to identify all species of multicellular plants, fungi and animals in the country and to make the information available to scientists, conservationists and the public.

More than half of the Swedish species are more or less poorly known. Almost nothing is known about where they occur, how they live or about their roles in the ecosystems. Several thousands of species also remain to be found.

Steering committee of the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative

Members

Stefan Ekman, Museum of Evolution, Uppsala University
Kjell Arne Johanson, The Swedish Museum of Natural History
Ellen Larsson, University of Gothenburg
Susanne Lundmark, SLU Swedish Species Information Centre
Liselott Sjödin Skarp, SLU Swedish Species Information Centre (chairman)
Thomas Strid, Entomologiska Föreningen i Stockholm
Stine Svalheim Markussen, Norwegian Biodiversity Information Centre, Norway

Long-term goals of the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative

Swedish biodiversity is well-known and scientifically described to species level
The names and taxonomic relationships of all Swedish eukaryotes are collected and made available
Information to enable identification of all multicellular Swedish species is provided
The relevance of the Swedish Taxonomy Initiative to society as a whole and the scientific results achieved are communicated efficiently – and the opportunities arising from national and international cooperation are grasped

Published: 16 April 2020 - Page editor: mia.maria.ronell@slu.se

The Swedish Taxonomy Initiative