The worldwide conservation effort has been focused on a few `flagship' species. However, experts now acknowledge that large sums of money may be spent on a single mammal or bird species while tens of thousands of plants, invertebrates and microorganisms are being lost from Earth each year. This workshop was held to develop a more sound approach to conservation, working on species which have a core function, either ecologically or socio-economically. It is these key species which may be the most important in the long run.