Would the new project be GFDL? Would it be easy to transfer contents to/from Wikipedia? How would we ensure that effort is not duplicated between the two projects? Do you have suggestions for improvements to the ToL project?
I understand that the information collected by the ToL project will indeed overlap to a big extent with the wikispecies directory, but that might turn out as an advantage rather than a disadvantage. As you said, the ToL presents information in a prosaic way as it is suitable for an encyclopedia. If wikispecies should become a reference for all users (including scientists), however, there are some points you need to consider:
1.) A clear sturcture as the one presented previously would be crucial for a specific (mind the play on words - specific) search; and that is imortant to attract professional users
2.) The sheer amount and uniformness of the bio-data would justify a separate access to the information
3.) A separate platform does NOT mean that wikispecies will have to be segregated from the wikipedia. Rather the opposite: wikispecies websites should use the same layout and should be accessible from wikipedia by normal search. More advanced users, however, would search with more detailed tools from the "wikispecies.org" portal.
So far, the ToL is ambitous, but doesn't serve the purpose of a wikispecies that should be organised in taxonomic terms and trees and deal exclusively for biological contents.
It is not meant to compete with wikipedia, but rather branch out of it without being a separate unit. I am looking forward to your support! By the way: most people who already assured me of their support were people who work as authors for wikipedia in bio-related subjects. Best,
Benedikt