Data for conservation: GBIF supporting conservation science and its application

Abstract

The need for evidence-based conservation remains of vital importance in achieving targets as set out by the Convention of Biological Diversity. The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an open-data research infrastructure funded by the world’s governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere access to data in standardised format about all types of life on Earth. Since its inception, there has been a rapid increase in the amount of available data, covering a breadth of taxonomic groups and temporal and geographical scales (GBIF, 2017a). A range of source data are standardised in line with the Darwin Core and Ecological Metadata standards and published as one of four dataset types – each one becoming progressively richer, more structured and more complex. GBIF thus acts as both a source of species-related data and a vehicle to ensure that data generated through research and its associated organizations are available for discovery, access and re-use in future research with full attribution through citations.

With its wealth of primary biodiversity data, GBIF is uniquely placed to contribute data relevant for conservation and, there is a growing body of research, both theoretical and applied, that is making use of this data (GBIF, 2017b, c). As of January 2018, of nearly 3000 research papers citing use of GBIF as a data source, 403 (14%) relate to conservation. In addition, there is clear need for the development of training and tools for the use of GBIF-mediated data amongst biodiversity professionals with an increased global demand for data-driven conservation practice and decision making. The presentation aims to highlight how researchers are using GBIF-mediated data within conservation biology, and GBIF activities that support the use of GBIF-mobilised data, notably through its BID programme.

GBIF (2017a) Global Data Trends. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/analytics/global GBIF (2017b) Science Review and Sourcebook. Retrieved from https://www.gbif.org/science-review GBIF (2017c) https://www.gbif.org/resource/search?contentType=literature&relevance=GBIF_USED