What does the precautionary principle mean? How should it be implemented in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use? These questions are being tackled by the Precautionary Principle Project: a joint initiative of IUCN, Fauna & Flora International, ResourceAfrica and TRAFFIC, involving regional offices and partners around the world. The project has been running for over a year and will continue until late 2005, and aims to develop best-practice guidance for applying the precautionary principle in biodiversity conservation and natural resource management, through a collaborative, consultative process of research, workshops, and engagement in major policymaking arenas.