Main goals - abstract of the programme The background for the programme Biological Diversity - Dynamics, Threats and Management is the Convention on Biological Diversity and the intended national action plan on biological diversity. The present programme is more comprehensive than previous research programmes concerned with the same themes. It has a broad angle of approach with a wide framework for several disciplines and will particularly concentrate on interdisciplinary research as a tool for solving problems. The programme fields embrace research into all kinds of natural environment, including terrestrial, marine and limnic, as well as arctic areas. The programme is concentrating on research directed at natural and semi-natural ecosystems as a basis for analysing anthropogenic (man-made) impacts, and the effect of measures to counteract undesirable changes within these systems. The main objective of the programme is therefore to improve the pool of basic knowledge for the sustainable use of biological resources and the preservation of the distinctive character and diversity of nature. All kinds of research institutions are represented in the programme’s portfolio, both public and private. Duration: From 1997 – 2007 Budget: Approx. 15 mill. NOK per year At present the programme is financing about 40 different projects, ranging from 50 000 to 1,4 mill. NOK, with mean around 400 000 NOK. The Steering Board’s ambitions are to lower the number and increase the sizes of projects through emphasising interdisciplinary cooperation between natural and social science relevant to the management of nature. The programme has a broad angle of approach with a wide framework for several disciplines and will particularly concentrate on interdisciplinary research as a tool for solving problems. The programme fields embrace research into all kinds of natural environment, terrestrial, marine and limnic, as well as arctic areas. 2.1 Main objective of the programme To improve the pool of basic knowledge for the sustainable use of biological resources and the preservation of the distinctive character and diversity of Nature. To attain this principal objective, we have to increase our knowledge concerning the natural composition, function and dynamics of the ecosystems, investigate the effects of human activities on these ecosystems and, finally, analyse the causes behind the threats, and the efficiency of various management strategies. The programme has a thematically wide frame, and from the outset there is no desire to narrow the limits of the research. The most important threats to biological diversity are the destruction of habitats, excessive harvesting, introduction of alien species and genotypes, and indirect consequences of such introductions. Problems directly associated with the excessive harvesting of commercial species fall beyond the mandate of the programme, but the effects of excessive harvesting, including the impacts on other parts of the ecosystems, are relevant research topics.