1. Biodiversity Information for Cooperation and Development in Ghana Alex Asase Ghana Biodiversity Information Facility (GhaBIF) Department of Botany, University of Ghana Email: aasase@ug.edu.ghaasase@ug.edu.gh Tel:+23324418800

2. Introduction  In Ghana and widely within Africa, biodiversity is of immense importance for daily subsistence, health care and nutrition as well as for marketing and economic income.  However, several factors continue to pose significant threats to biodiversity in Ghana.  The NBSAP has identified lack of accurate information on the current status of biodiversity in Ghana as one of major constraints to sustainable development.  How do we obtain biodiversity information in order to support cooperation and development in Ghana?

3. Deployment of GBIF informatics suite to address the biodiversity information needs in Ghana

4. But there are a number of obstacles that requires attention / solutions! What are these?

5. Data Types and Integration

6. Training and Capacity Building  GBIF Informatics Suites.  Digitization, data cleaning and publishing. Database management.  Intellectual Property Right (IPR) issues.  Niche Modelling.

7. Tools and Infrastructure Requirements  Software and hardware.  Uninterrupted power supply.  Internet and broadband issues Partnerships  Lack of synergy.  Collaboration amongst institutions within Ghana and elsewhere on best practices.  Data repatriation.

8. Role of Citizen Science  To collect observation data and traditional knowledge.  Monitoring and conservation of biodiversity.  Training of Parataxonomist for inventories.  Products to support resource managers and users.  Products to guide national policy in making strategic planning. User-Friendly Products and Policy markers Funds

9. Why TDWGS? because there are no sets of standards on biodiversity information needed for cooperation and sustainable development ! Thus a group to develop and promote effective biodiversity information standards that will support cooperation and development is urgently needed.

10. Acknowledgments GBIF Bioversity International JRS Biodiversity Foundation University of Ghana