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The Global Biodiversity
Information Facility
Alberto GONZÁLEZ-TALAVÁN
Programme Officer for Training
GBIF Secretariat
II Course on GBIF Node Management
31st
October and
Arusha, Tanzania
November 2008
1st
SUMMARY
1. Introduction: about this speech.
2. GBIF Basics: mission, open access to biodiversity data, principles…
3. Primary Biodiversity Data:
4. GBIF Structure:
definition, types, users, uses, access, sharing…
membership, partners, governance & history.
5. Benefits of GBIF: for managers, science, education, developing countries...
6. Conclusions.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
INTRODUCTION
This speech is an overview of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility - GBIF,
in order to give to the listener a general idea of the work that GBIF is doing
worldwide, its history, philosophy, structure, etc.
Most of the practical implementation of GBIF is carried out by its participants,
through their own biodiversity facilities and networks,
called GBIF Participant Nodes. The importance and
role of GBIF Participant Nodes is subject of other
lectures in this course, and will not be highlighted
here. Please refer to these other lectures for
further information.
This lecture is presented by Alberto González-Talaván,
Training Officer at the GBIF Secretariat in
Copenhagen, Denmark.
The GBIF Secretariat, Denmark
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF BASICS
The MISSION of GBIF is to facilitate free and open
access to biodiversity data worldwide, via the
Internet, to underpin sustainable development.
Priorities:
• mobilise biodiversity data,
• develop protocols and standards,
• build an informatics architecture,
• promote capacity building, and
• catalyse development of analytical
tools for improved decision-making.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF BASICS
Statement on Open Access to Biodiversity Data
Research councils and other funding agencies around the world should:
• promote the inclusion of plans for maintenance and sharing of biodiversity
data generated by funded research projects.
• promote the open dissemination and public availability of these data
through mechanisms that cooperate with GBIF.
Adopted by the GBIF Governing Board, January 2006
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF BASICS
GBIF's place in the biodiversity information landscape:
• Promotes digitisation of species-level
data.
• Creates a taxonomic backbone to
connect different types of data.
• Develops information architecture and
tools (web services, standards,
protocols).
• Facilitates linkages among different
biodiversity levels: molecular, species
and ecosystem data.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF BASICS
Why facilitate linkages?
GBIF helps to connect the pieces to enable questioning across levels of
biodiversity...
Biological information is in
many fragments…
Pulling it all together
leads to many benefits - the whole is
greater than the sum of the parts
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF BASICS
GBIF's role among biodiversity information networks
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF BASICS
GBIF Working Principles (1/2)
PHILOSOPHY
• Open and free access to biodiversity data.
• Avoidance of duplication of efforts.
• Underpin sustainable development.
ARCHITECTURE
• Distributed network.
• Common standards and protocols.
• Procedures for interoperability and data integration.
• Web services (mostly for machines, but for people too).
• Global registry for advertisement of shared data.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF BASICS
GBIF Working Principles (2/2)
COMMUNITY BUILDING
• Protection of Intellectual Property Rights at all levels.
• Data sources get full accreditation and citation.
• Collaboraton and sharing of expertise.
• Ownership of data remains entirely with data publishers.
• Open source software free and built by the community.
• Worldwide network of collaborating institutions that share data.
• GBIF’s Participants’ Nodes promote and coordinate activities of data
publishers.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
GBIF’s focus is on primary biodiversity data
Primary data, because at present
they are difficult or too timeconsuming to access, are not often
used in natural resource policy or
management decisions
Primary biodiversity data that are
available digitally can significantly
improve decision-making and
research (as demonstrated by
CONABIO of Mexico)
The Virtual herbarium of Mexico holds
700,000 records from 25 institutions.
Source: CONABIO (Mexico).
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
What GBIF means by “primary biodiversity data”? (1/2)
Primary Biodiversity Data* is defined as: Digital text or multimedia data record
detailing facts about the instance of occurrence of an organism, i.e. on the
what, where, when, how and by whom of the occurrence and the recording.
1. Censuses, monitor projects, bird banding
data, etc.
The data is in associated notes, recordings,
reports, publications, etc.
Observational data
2. Label data on ~ 1.5 - 3.0 billion specimens
in natural history collections, herbaria,
botanical gardens, etc.
These data have been amassed over ~ 300 years
= legacy data. Need to be digitised.
Natural History data
* Primary Biodiversity Data definition from the draft GBIF Work Programme 2009-2010.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
What GBIF means by “primary biodiversity data”? (2/2)
3. In the form of species desciptions, surveys,
tables, maps, etc.
Literature data
Very few information digitised. Automated
digitisations partially possible.
4. Available from research facilities, but also
on the internet.
Multimedia data
Most of them are already digital. Metadata is
essential (different levels).
5. Still to be discovered!
Other types
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
Users of GBIF-mediated data
Scientists, experts,
Government officials at all levels,
Education at all levels,
International organisations and
conventions,
• NGOs and the general public
•
•
•
•
These needs are highly varied, but
can be met by open access to the
same data(sets).
The same data can be analysed
differently for different uses.
Source: CONABIO (Mexico)
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
Uses of GBIF-mediated data
What can you do with georeferenced biodiversity data?
• Predict effects of climate change
• Analyse and predict spread of pests and diseases of humans, crops,
livestock, wildlife, etc.
• Predict best places to set up new protected areas
• Analyse invasive species and predict invasion pathways
• Provide policymaker-relevant data of all kinds
• Be a resource for biodiversity science communities
Chapman, A. D. 2005. Uses of Primary Species-Occurrence Data, version
1.0. Report for the Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Copenhagen.
http://www.gbif.org/GBIF_org/GBIF_Publications
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
GBIF information infrastructure
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
The GBIF Data Portal: data.gbif.org
Integrates biodiversity data from
many sources.
Searches:
 taxonomic,
 geographic:
 country,
 region, or
 bounding-box
 by dataset,
 or a combination of these
Taxonomic browse navigation
using choice of classification
Multilingual interface
Automated web services
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
GBIF total georeferenced data
116 million georeferenced records from a total of 150+ million records, mapped to a 1 X 1 degree grid
(Oct 2008)
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
Biodiversity and information about it are unevenly distributed….
biodiversity hotspot
holder of large amounts of biodiversity data
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
GBIF Facilitates Sharing Data with countries of origin
GBIF-mediated data on the developing
world from developed-world
institutions
http://data.gbif.org/countries/datasharing
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
PRIMARY BIODIVERSITY DATA
GBIF Statement on Mobilising and Sharing Biodiversity Data with
Countries of Origin
• Natural history institutions housing data from other countries should ensure
that these are digitised and made openly available.
• Funding agencies around the world should provide funding for research,
capacity building, training and other relevant activities that include
digitisation and open dissemination of biodiversity data.
Adopted in keeping with CBD Article 17 by the GBIF Governing Board, October 2007
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF STRUCTURE
Participating in GBIF
(1/3)
Associate Participants are countries or international organisations that:
• Sign the Memorandum of Understanding
• Establish and maintain a GBIF node
Voting Participants are countries that in addition:
• Participate actively in GBIF governance and in the
implementation of the GBIF Work Programme.
• Contribute financially to the GBIF Work Programme.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF STRUCTURE
Participating in GBIF
1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Belgium
5. Benin
6. Burkina Faso
7. Bulgaria
8. Cameroon
9. Canada
10. Colombia
11. Costa Rica
12. Cuba
13. Denmark
14. Equatorial Guinea
15. Estonia
16. Finland
17. France
49 countries (Oct 2008)
(2/3)
35. Norway
36. Pakistan
37. Peru
38. Philippines
39. Poland
40. Portugal
41. Slovak Republic
42. Slovenia
43. South Africa
44. Spain
45. Sweden
46. Switzerland
47. Tanzania
48. United Kingdom
49. United States of
America
18. Germany
19. Ghana
20. Guinea
21. Iceland
22. India
23. Indonesia
24. Ireland
25. Japan
26. Kenya
27. Korea (Republic of)
28. Luxembourg
29. Madagascar
30. Mexico
31. Morocco
32. Netherlands
33. New Zealand
34. Nicaragua
http://www.gbif.org/GBIF_org/participation
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF STRUCTURE
Participating in GBIF
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
39 international organisations (Oct 2008)
(3/3)
BioNET International
ANDINONET
ASEANET
EASIANET
SAFRINET
Bioversity International
BGCI
CABI Bioscience
CETAF
CBOL
CYTED
Discover Life
26. NatureServe
27. NORDGEN
28. NSCA
29. OBIS
30. PBIF
31. SCAR
32. Species 2000
33. SPNHC
34. TDWG
35. UNEP – WCMC
36. WDCBE
37. WFCC
38. Wildscreen
13. DIVERSITAS
14. EOL
15. EWT
16. ETI Bioinformatics
17. Finding Species
18. FreshwaterLife
19. IABIN
20. ICIPE
21. ICZN
22. ILTER
23. ISIS
24. ITIS
25. MSEF
http://www.gbif.org/GBIF_org/participation
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF STRUCTURE
GBIF is an essential partner for many information initiatives
GBIF Information
Infrastructure
• Data web
services
• OGC services
• Global index
• Registry
• Metadata
management
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF STRUCTURE
GBIF Gobernance
1. Governing Board (GB)
Establishes policy
Oversees finances through its Budget Committee
Intersessional actions delegated to its Executive Committee
2. Standing Committees
Executive Committee
Budget Committee
Rules Committee
Science Committee
Nodes Committee
3. Secretariat
Carries out GBIF Work Programme
Coordinates activities of the Nodes
Promotes GBIF principles
Encourages participation in GBIF
Recommends policies to Governing Board
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF STRUCTURE
GBIF Plans
GBIF is implemented through:
• Strategic plans: published every FIVE years.
They describe the general framework for the
work of GBIF.
Current strategic plan:
2007-2011: From prototype towards full operation
• Work Plans: published every TWO years.
Work plans include details on the practical implementation and the activities that
will be carried out to complete the vision described in the strategic plan.
The Work Plan for 2009-2010 will be discussed during the 15th meeting of the GBIF
Governing Board in Arusha (Tanzania) in Nov 2008.
http://www.gbif.org/GBIF_org/GBIF_Publications
http://www.gbif.org/GBIF_org/GBIF_Documents/GBIF_Documents
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF STRUCTURE
Short GBIF HISTORY:
• January 1999 - Idea was proposed by the Global
Science Forum of the OECD.
• June 1999 – Endorsed by OECD Science Ministers
(but required that GBIF involve whole world, not just OECD countries).
• March 2001 - GBIF was established.
• February 2004 - Prototype data portal opened (proof of concept of
distributed, interoperable biodiversity data).
• July 2007 - GBIF Data Portal launched.
• October 2008
• Now the portal serves +150 million data records, from 7621 datasets
served by 266 data provider installations in 35 countries.
• About 60% is observational data and 40% specimen-based.
1999
2001
2004
2007
2008
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
BENEFITS OF GBIF
For policy and management
• Prediction of patterns of spread of new diseases.
• Ability to understand effects of ecological change on biological resources
(forests, fisheries, agriculture, ecotourism, etc.)
• Evidence-based regulation of GMO crops.
• Rapid identification and information about control of invasive species.
• Better prediction of areas most suitable for nature reserves.
• Means of analysis of environmental concerns.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
BENEFITS OF GBIF
In conservation and science
1. Biodiversity modeling:
Current species occurrence.
Correlation of species occurrence with ecological parameters.
Potential localities for species believed to be rare.
Prediction of change in species occurrences based on environmental change.
Prediction of spread of invasive species.
2. Large datasets immediately available:
Tools for data-cleaning provided.
Feedback to data providers very welcome.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
BENEFITS OF GBIF
For developing countries
1. Access to information associated with a country’s primary biodiversity data that are
housed in foreign institutions:
• Travel to obtain the data not required.
• Difficulty of repatriating and expense of housing actual specimens is avoided.
2. Ability to share fully in the common store of
humanity’s knowledge about biodiversity.
3. Opportunity for training in the expert development
and use of biodiversity information.
4. GBIF support of and cooperation with GTI and BioNET
helps to build in-country taxonomic capacity.
5. GBIF’s Capacity Enhancement Programme for
Developing Countries (CEPDEC).
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
BENEFITS OF GBIF
For education and the general public
1. Greater amount of reliable scientific content about biodiversity
on the Internet.
2. Participant nodes will encourage digitisation of data from their
own countries.
3. GBIF and GBIF nodes portals will share data that can be
customized to user needs
4. Web portals can be designed to draw on GBIF data
but have specific audiences of their own, e.g.
• World Database of Protected Areas
• BioCASE
• Zipcode Zoo
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
BENEFITS OF GBIF
To data publishers
1. Higher visibility of the institution or research project as useful to society
• Global dissemination of the data.
• Source of the data will be attributed when used.
• Increases the possibility for future funding and collaboration.
2. Contribution to the ability of everyone to share in the common store of
humanity’s knowledge about biodiversity.
3. Feedback from users helps in data quality
improvement.
4. Saves collection management resources.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
BENEFITS OF GBIF
For biodiversity researchers
GBIF is a distributed megascience facility that, when mature, will provide:
1. access to a persistent data store for specimen and species level data, thus
filling a niche similar to that of GenBank for DNA-level data.
2. easy online access to georeferenced biodiversity data via a network portal.
3. a complete, global, electronic index to scientific names and thus to the
scientific literature and databases.
4. a means to link together data from disparate sources (e.g. DNA, specimen,
species observation and ecosystem) to answer complex questions.
5. opportunities for within- and
cross-disciplinary collaboration.
6. a means to infuse biodiversity policy
and management decisions with real,
scientific data.
7. modern data management and data
sharing approaches in taxonomic
practice, training and education
that will enhance career opportunities.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
CONCLUSIONS
1. GBIF’s mission is to facilitate free and open access to biodiversity data.
2. GBIF does its work in partnership with others, avoiding duplication of efforts.
3. GBIF membership is composed of countries and international organisations.
4. GBIF is based in a distributed network and operates in a decentralised manner.
5. GBIF’s work is at present mainly focused in primary biodiversity data, but other
types of biodiversity data are also being tackled.
6. Access to GBIF-mediated data is done though data portals (like data.gbif.org),
and other web services.
7. Data sharing with countries of origin is of paramount
importance for GBIF.
8. The benefits of GBIF spread across many sectors:
science, policy, conservation, education, developing
countries, data publishers…
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
The Global Biodiversity
Information Facility
Alberto GONZÁLEZ-TALAVÁN
Programme Officer for Training
GBIF Secretariat
Universitetsparken 15
DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
Tel: +45 3532 1483
Fax: +45 3532 1480
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.gbif.org
II Course on GBIF Node Management
31st
October and
Arusha, Tanzania
November 2008
1st