Battleangel

The Swedish Taxonomy Initiative has accomplished its first milestone release of the Swedish Flora and Fauna Encyclopedia. The first volume (detailing butterflies) which is due April 25th represents part one of about 130 volumes and all in all 50000 species (with 30000 of those being described in great detail).

The project that set out three years ago aims to be completed by 2021 and will be the only one of its kind, in essence the world’s most complete species encyclopedia and taxonomic record. In a way it is the natural continuation (and conclusion) to the legacy of Carl von Linné and his classification of living things, the Systema Naturae, which was first released 270 years ago.

The awe-inspiring project will cost over $110m (800m SEK) but needless to say it will be money well spent. Documenting and preserving biological diversity is one of the finest legacies one can hope to leave behind. Especially so in a world gone mad with war, greed and corruption.