Taxonomy Recognition Day Highlights the Importance of the Discipline
On 23 May, Taxonomy Recognition Day will take place – an international initiative highlighting the importance of the science that identifies, describes, and classifies living organisms. This year again, the Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences is joining the European #NameItToSaveIt campaign.
Taxonomy forms the foundation of both biodiversity research and conservation. Without the ability to correctly identify and name species, it is impossible to effectively protect endangered plants, monitor changes in nature, or preserve genetic diversity for the future. Yet many species are still awaiting discovery and scientific description. In the Czech Republic alone, scientists describe dozens of new species every year.
The importance of taxonomy is rapidly increasing in connection with climate change, biodiversity loss, and the spread of invasive species. Nevertheless, obtaining funding for taxonomic research has become extremely difficult, and this traditional biological discipline is gradually disappearing.
The Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences will mark Taxonomy Recognition Day with the public event “Curator-guided Tour of the Iris Collections”, taking place on Saturday, 23 May 2026, at 2 p.m. in the Průhonice Botanic Garden, located within the UNESCO-listed Průhonice Park. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the National Iris Collection and learn more about the role of botanical gardens in preserving the genetic diversity of cultivated and endangered plants. The programme will also present practical approaches to plant conservation and species reintroduction into the wild.
Taxonomy Recognition Day was established within the European project TETTRIs, funded by Horizon Europe. The date commemorates the birthday of Carl Linnaeus, founder of the modern system of naming organisms.
Everyone can join the campaign. Simply notice an interesting species in your surroundings, find out its name, and share its story using the hashtag #NameItToSaveIt.