THE ORGANIZATION FOR FLORA NEOTROPICA

The Organization for Flora Neotropica (OFN) is a UNESCO Category B org anization with the mission of, among other things, providing published information about the plants and fungi of the New World tropics (Neot ropics). OFN was established in 1964, largely through the efforts of D rs. Jose Cuatrecasas and F. Raymond Fosberg. Beginning with the first Flora Neotropica monograph (a treatment of Swartzia by R. S. Cowan in 1968), 67 volumes treating 905 species of fungi, 18 species of lichens , 228 species of bryophytes, and 5971 species of flowering plants have been published. Despite this impressive record of accomplishment, it is apparent that the rate of monograph production is neither sufficien t to supply the need for information about the plants of the Neotropic s nor fast enough to keep ahead of the rapid destruction of Neotropica l habitats. Recommendations are made for improving the productivity of OFN.