Abstract:
The International Biological Material Research Center (IBMRC)
at the Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology
(KRIBB) is working to create a global network for exploration,
conservation and considerate use of the global biological resources.
Sponsored by the Ministry of Science ICT and Future Planning of
the Republic of Korea, our aim is to unveil the hidden potential of
biological resources of the world. As of now, four overseas regional
biological resource centers, in China, Costa Rica, Indonesia
and Vietnam are functional to bring off our goal to a successful
conclusion.
Korea-Costa Rica Biodiversity Research Center (KCBRC) was
established as an outcome of the successful collaboration between
KRIBB and Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad (INBio) to survey
the Costa Rican bio resources. Since 2008, KCBRC is devoted
to explore potential use of Costa Rican wild plants that could be
developed into propitious pharmaceuticals, neutraceuticals etc.
Costa Rica geographical position is one of feature responsible
for its high biological diversity. Due to that Costa Rican government
has designated about 25 % of its natural areas as national parks
and other categories to preserve the valuable biological resources.
However, there are still many areas remaining which need to be
surveyed, studied and protected.
To archive our collaboration on biodiversity research, we are
presenting this book “Plants of Costa Rica: Photographic Field
Guide, Vol. 2” this document illustrates 300 species in 87 families
of Costa Rican wild plants. Among the species included, about 12
of them are endemic and most of those left at genera level (p.e.
Masannona sp., Myrcia paulii-jonesii) are possible new species.
