GBits

GBIF NewsletterNo. 16 - April 2010
The mission of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is to facilitate free andopen access to biodiversity data worldwide via the Internet to underpin sustainable
development. Priorities, with an emphasis on promoting participation and working throughpartners, include mobilising biodiversity data, developing protocols and standards to ensure
scientific integrity and interoperability, building an informatics architecture to allow theinterlinking of diverse data types from disparate sources, promoting capacity building andcatalysing development of analytical tools for improved decision-making.

COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
Introducing ‘Message Mate’Message Mate is a new light communications tool provided by the GBIF Secretariat for the GBIF
network, by the GBIF network. Received by Node Managers as an email without attachments,
pictures or heavy format at the end of every month, Message Mate communicates about
international events/activities, new tools, products and services, as well as scientific and media
publications on/by GBIF. Message Mate is currently being tested over a 6 month period, whereafter a decision will be taken on whether or not it should be continued. [read more...]
GBIF Task Group on Electronic Learning
The GBIF Task Group on Electronic Learning was set up in February 2010 to test different Open
Source eLearning platforms for the Global GBIF Virtual Classroom, and provide
recommendations and guidelines on the selection, use and population of contents of suchplatform. Exploring the needs of the GBIF Community on this topic is also part of theirmandate. [read more...]
GBIF leading working group on Data Integration and Interoperability for GEO BON
The GBIF Secretariat and GBIF Finland are co-leading the Data Integration and Interoperability
working group, one of eight topical working groups that are preparing the Detailed
Implementation Plan for the GEO Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON). [read more…]
National stakeholders agree sustainability plan for TanBIF:
The Governing Board of TanBIF, comprising 30 stakeholder institutions across the science andenvironmental spectra in Tanzania, have agreed a broad-based sustainability plan for TanBIF
beyond the GBIF-CEPDEC start-up phase, premised on the societal benefits that will accrue tothe country from the continued investment in the TanBIF infrastructure. [read more...]A new Bio-informatics Hub for Guinea GBIFThe Center for Observation and Environmental Monitoring (COSE), Ministry of Environment,Water, Forests and Sustainable Development, Republic of Guinea, is a Participant in the GBIFSEP-CEPDEC programme. This programme aims to create capacity in developing countries tointegrate the use of data in biodiversity education, science, policy and decision-making at alllevels. It is within this context that the COSE, host organisation for GBIF GUINEA, recently
created a bio-informatics hub. [read more...]TOOLS AND SERVICES
GBIF Harvesting and Indexing Toolkit (HIT) version 1.0 Release Candidate 1
The GBIF Harvesting and Indexing Toolkit (HIT) version 1.0 Release Candidate 1 (RC1) has now
been officially released. In the next phase of the project, volunteer Nodes will help scope
further developments via a round of testing. The Harvesting and Indexing Toolkit is an open
source Java-based web application developed by the GBIF Secretariat to manage biodiversity
data harvesting and quickly build indexes of harvested data. [read more...]Layout & design © GBIF

No. 16, April 2010

page 2GBitsPARTICIPATIONGBIF – 98 ParticipantsThe total number of GBIF Participants is 98, comprising 54 GBIF country members and 44
international organisation members. For a full list of GBIF’s current Participants, click here.

PUBLICATIONS
Publications using GBIF increase 500%
Professional publications that used GBIF-enabled data for analysis during 2009 showed a yearon-year increase of more than 500%, according to the latest statistics drawn from Google
Scholar. [read more...]MEETINGS & EVENTSGBIF Committee Mid-Term meetings held in Copenhagen
The GBIF Budget, Executive and Science Committees held their Mid-term meetings inCopenhagen from 19-22 April. [read more...]Workshop on Biodiversity Data Discovery and Publishing in India, 4-7 May
GBIF Secretariat staff will participate as resource persons in the Training Workshop onBiodiversity Data Discovery and Publishing to be held at Dehradun, India, 4-7 May 2010. The
objective of this workshop is to develop a pool of trainers (‘train-the-trainers’) in the area ofbiodiversity data discovery and publishing. [read more...]Latin American Workshop on Biodiversity e-Learning Platforms
The Ibero-American Biodiversity Information Facility (PIIB) is holding a ‘Latin American
Workshop on Biodiversity e-Learning Platforms’ with the collaboration of the Research Institutefor the Peruvian Amazon (IIAP), the Spanish GBIF Node (GBIF.ES) and the GBIF Secretariat inCuzco, Peru, from 10-13 May 2010. [read more...]Breaking Barriers to Sharing Biodiversity Information
The South African Biodiversity Information Facility (SABIF) Secretariat has organised a successful
SABIF Data Handover Event which took place on 25 March 2010, in Cape Town, South Africa, aspart of the celebrations of the International Year of Biodiversity. [read more...]
GBIF at EuroGEOSS Consortium plenary meeting
The plenary meeting of the EuroGEOSS Consortium (www.eurogeoss.eu/) will take place at theEC- Joint Research Centre (Ispra, Italy) on 10-12 May 2010. [read more...]SECRETARIAT NEWS
GBIF committee elections
The GBIF Governing Board has intersessionally elected the 2nd Vice Chair of the GBIF Budget
Committee and a new Chair of the Training Work Area. [read more...]CONTACTS
Postal and physicaladdress:

GBIF Secretariat
Universitetsparken 15
DK-2100 Copenhagen ØDenmark

Contact information for GBIF
Secretariat staff:

Tel: +45 35 32 14 70
Fax: +45 35 32 14 80
E-mail: info@gbif.org

http://www.gbif.org/communications/directory-ofcontacts/gbif-secretariat/GBits archive: http://www.gbif.org/communications/publications/newsletters/
Layout & design © GBIF

No. 16, April 2010