National Museum of Natural History (U.S.). Biodiversity Program.

The Neotropical Biodiversity Program was established in the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) in 1990 in response to growing concerns about the accelerating destruction of forests and other habitats. It was an attempt to centralize NMNH research on tropical forests, coastal marine ecosystems, temperate environments, and other places where human encroachment threatens natural areas. Don E. Wilson was appointed Director. The name was changed to Biodiversity Program in 1992.

Programs and projects under the Biodiversity umbrella have included Biological Diversity of the Guianas (BDG); Biological Diversity of Tropical Latin America (BIOLAT); Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragments Project (BDFFP); Biodiversity Surveys and Inventories Program; Caribbean Coral Reef Ecosystems Program at Carries Bow Cay, Belize; Declining Amphibian Populations Task Force; Latin American Plant Program; Monitoring and Assessment of Biodiversity Program; and the Neotropical Lowlands Research Program.

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Agency History. Record 217909