The National Institutes of Health, Agency for International Development and National Science Foundation will sponsor a workshop on "Drug Development, Biodiversity and Economic Growth." The workshop will convene governmental leaders and scientists from developing countries, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, and agency personnel to discuss the valuation and preservation of biological diversity. One mechanism for assigning value to naturally occurring organisms is the screening of plants and animals for medically useful chemicals; the workshop attendees will evaluate current screening activities, discuss the need to also gather information about the traditional uses of plants and animals by indigenous peoples, and recommend ways in which the three sponsoring agencies can work together to support the inventorying and preservation of biological diversity in developing countries.
