START - THE ROAD FROM BELLAGIO

The START initiative (co-sponsored by IGBP, WCRP and HDP) has as its p rimary objective development of regional frameworks to support regiona l research related to global change, associated capacity building and synthesis scientific assessments related to policy development, START now has six regional networks under development in South-East Asia, No rthern Africa, East Asia, South Asia, the Mediterranean, and Southern Africa, Issues before START include the coordination of regional activ ities with that of sponsoring programmes, the need for a more elaborat ed HDP, and the development of thematic programming that will secure m ulti-donor, multi-year support.