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Human-driven global change is causing ongoing declines in biodiversity worldwide. In order to address these declines, decision-makers need accurate assessments of the status of and pressures on biodiversity. However, these are heavily constrained by incomplete and uneven spatial, temporal and taxonomic coverage. For instance, data from regions such as Europe and North America are currently used overwhelmingly for large-scale biodiversity assessments due to lesser availability of suitable data from other, more biodiversity-rich, regions. These data-poor regions are often those experiencing the strongest threats to biodiversity, however. There is therefore an urgent need to fill the existing gaps in global biodiversity monitoring. Here, we review current knowledge on best practice in capacity building for biodiversity monitoring and provide an overview of existing means to improve biodiversity data collection considering the different types of biodiversity monitoring data. Our review comprises insights from work in Africa, South America, Polar Regions and Europe; in governmentfunded, volunteer and citizen-based monitoring in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. The key steps to effectively building capacity in biodiversity monitoring are: identifying monitoring questions and aims; identifying the key components, functions, and processes to monitor; identifying the most suitable monitoring methods for these elements, carrying out monitoring activities; managing the resultant data; and interpreting monitoring data. Additionally, biodiversity monitoring should use multiple approaches including extensive and intensive monitoring through volunteers and professional scientists but also harnessing new technologies. Finally, we call on the scientific community to share biodiversity monitoring data, knowledge and tools to ensure the accessibility, interoperability, and reporting of biodiversity data at a global scale.4

The Strategic Plan for Biodiversity, adopted under the auspices of the Convention on Biological Diversity, provides the basis for taking effective action to curb biodiversity loss across the planet by 2020—an urgent imperative. Yet, Antarctica and the Southern Ocean, which encompass 10% of the planet’s surface, are excluded from assessments of progress against the Strategic Plan. The situation is a lost opportunity for biodiversity conservation globally. We provide such an assessment. Our evidence suggests, surprisingly, that for a region so remote and apparently pristine as the Antarctic, the biodiversity outlook is similar to that for the rest of the planet. Promisingly, however, much scope for remedial action exists.

Objective-To evaluate universal antenatal screening for haemoglobinopathies. Setting-District general hospital serving a London borough with 45% ethnic minorities. Methods-Retrospective cohort study of 1444 women referred in 1688 pregnancies and 95 tertiary referrals during 101 pregnancies. Results-Unselected women at risk for sickle cell disease booked 2.7 weeks (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.14 to 5.1) later in gestation than those at risk for thalassaemia were less likely to attend counselling (83% v 93%, relative risk (RR) 0.89; 95% CI 0.85 to 0.94), their partners were less likely to be tested (77% v 95%, RR 0.81; 0.77 to 0.83), and they were less likely to accept prenatal diagnosis (22% v 90%, RR 0.37; 0.24 to 0.57).Over 99% of tertiary referrals attended counselling and had their partners tested. There were no significant diVerences in acceptance of prenatal diagnosis between those at risk of sickle cell disease and thalassaemia (55% v 67%).Unselected women at risk of sickle cell disease were significantly less likely to have their partner tested or to accept prenatal diagnosis than tertiary referrals, but not those at risk of thalassaemia. 80% of thalassaemia and 16% of SS births were prevented. Conclusions-Uptake of prenatal diagnosis among unselected women at risk of thalassaemia is similar to that reported by tertiary centres. It is considerably lower for sickle cell disease but could increase considerably if screening occurred earlier in gestation.Acceptance of counselling is universally high, suggesting that informed choices are made, and indicating a need to measure these outcomes for cost eVectiveness studies. (J Med Screen 1999;6:3-10)