Virtual Participation would make Nomenclature Governance more Democratic

What is it about?

The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (Code) provides a precise, widely accepted system of naming organisms that enables accurately referencing them in international commerce, agriculture, forestry, horticulture, medicine, conservation, and more. Thus, we might say that the Code is one of the bases of international law. Changes in the Code are made at a meeting called the Nomenclature Section (NS) at International Botanical Congresses every six years. We propose that scientists be able to participate virtually in these very important meetings.

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Why is it important?

Attending an International Botanical Congress can be a logistical challenge. The location where a meeting is held matters because of the difficulty or ease of attending the meeting and because opinions on some issues may differ from region to region. So far, no International Botanical Congress has ever been held in either Africa or Latin America, so those regions have been under-represented in past decisions. In this paper, we propose that people be able to virtually participate in the meetings concerning the Code, which would make the process of nomenclature governance more international and more democratic.

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