In the programme applicability 'refers to all those activities aiming at the protection of diversity as well as at the compatibility between the protection and use of diversity'.
Applicability is an excellent goal for a biodiversity programme but by no means easy to achieve.
Emphasis on applicability has prompted me to use this forum to raise a few issues that have puzzled me when thinking about the relationship between scientific research and its applications. I feel that we need a profound debate on the complex issue of applying science in the society. I hope that I can stimulate discussion among the readers about these and related issues that I feel are extremely important. To a researcher who has done more or less basic research all his career it is a challenge to change gears and start doing applied research. This is for several reasons.