Global Biodiversity Information Facility GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY INFORMATION FACILITY Georeferencing Workshop Dec. 5-7, 2006 Larry Speers

Global Biodiversity Information Facility “Taken collectively, the plant and animal specimens in the world’s museum collections combined with recent observational and monitoring data provide our most complete picture of the biological diversity of the planet.”

Global Biodiversity Information Facility History of Collections Development Collection growth has not been strategic but has been dependent on the: Taxonomic interests of individual staff members present at any particular time Changing emphasis and interests of funding agencies Opportunities for staff to participate in various collecting activities/expeditions National interests - changing political situations Personal networks of individual staff members for the exchange of material

Global Biodiversity Information Facility Impact of Historic Development l Critical material is often not located in local collections l It is impossible to predict the holdings of any collection either taxonomically, temporally or geographically. l Each collection only has a small portion of the relevant material that is needed to address most scientific questions.

Global Biodiversity Information Facility

Why was GBIF established ? l To make primary scientific data about biodiversity openly and freely accessible to everyone, no matter where in the world they live. l Calls from governments, industry and the public for scientific biodiversity information are increasing steadily. l Basic biodiversity information is needed for environmental decision-making, scientific inquiry, and economic development.

Global Biodiversity Information Facility GBIF Voting Participants: 26 l Australia l Belgium l Canada l Costa Rica l Denmark l Equatorial Guinea l Estonia l Finland l France l Germany l Iceland l Japan l Rep. of Korea l Mexico l Netherlands l New Zealand l Nicaragua l Peru l Portugal l Slovenia l South Africa l Spain l Sweden l UK l USA as of 30 Sep 2005

Global Biodiversity Information Facility GBIF Associate Participants: 20 countries l Argentina l Austria l Benin l Bulgaria l Cameroon l Colombia l Czech Rep. l Ghana l Guinea l India l Indonesia l Madagascar l Morocco l Pakistan l Papua New Guinea l Philippines l Poland l Slovakia l Switzerland l Tanzania as of 30 Sep 2005

Global Biodiversity Information Facility GBIF Associate Participants: 32 International Organisations / Economies l ARCBC l ASEANET l BGBC l BioNET l BIOSIS l CABI Bioscience l CBOL l EASIANET l European Commission l ETI l Finding Species l FreshwaterLife l IABIN l ICIPE l ICZN l ITIS l IUCN l NatureServe l NGB l NSCA l OBIS l PBIF l SAFRINET SBSV l Species 2000 l Taiwan l TDWG l UNESCO MAB l UNEP l WDCBE l WFCC l Wildscreen Trust as of 30 Sep 2005

World data (80 million records)

Taxonomy Geography Datasets AnimaliaFungiPlantae Annelida Arthropoda Ascomycota Basidiomycota Coniferophyta Equisetophyta India NCL NBN INBio BeBIF GA GA CCWJMP03 BSBIDEMO BRCCRAY0 Atta IHEM LMG MUCL Xylarium Exploring biodiversity data Asia Africa Europe China Benin Belgium Bangladesh Angola Congo Andorra Italy India Chordata IndOBIS Organisation of biodiversity data: 1.By taxonomy (taxonomists, naturalists, public, etc.) 2.By geography (GBIF participants, public, etc.) 3.By data resources (GBIF participants, data providers, etc.)