This paper introduces the rationale and aims of the Europewide
biodiversity informatics PESI [1] project. PESI defines and coordinates
strategies to enhance the quality and reliability of European biodiversity
information by integrating the infrastructural components of four major
community networks on taxonomic indexing, namely those of marine life,
terrestrial plants, fungi and animals, into a joint work programme. This will
include functional knowledge networks of both taxonomic experts and regional
focal points, which will collaborate on the establishment of standardised
and authoritative taxonomic (meta-) data. In addition PESI will coordinate
the integration and synchronisation of the European taxonomic information
systems into a joint e-infrastructure and the creation of a common userinterface
disseminating the pan-European checklists and associated userservices
results.
