Report prepared for the Experts Meeting Towards the Implementation of a Global Invasive Species
Information Network (GISIN), 6-8 April, 2004. Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
Page 56
8/30/2004
can share their information where needed, like
data on distribution and diagnostics. So, one
hesitates to include all these information types in
GBIF, but GBIF does provide a model for an
infrastructure that works and the linkages/data
flows between GBIF and GISIN should be
strong.
Introduction
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility
(GBIF) (http://www.gbif.org) is an
international organization with the mission
of establishing a distributed information
infrastructure for sharing primary
biodiversity data or more specifically
species and specimen level data,
observations, and names etc. The
development team also plans to link these
data to other levels of information. GBIF’s
infrastructure primarily serves specimen and
observation data, but hopes to incorporate
other information types such as genetic,
geospatial, and ecosystem data.
All of these pieces of data must be put in
the right place. This placement is achieved
through an approach resembling that of an
open market place, or a phone book (a
directory of shared biodiversity data called
the registry) which uses Web Services
terminology. GBIF concentrates on the
creation and maintenance of this registry
while other groups, institutions, initiatives,
organizations, and networks work on other
components that can then be linked to the
GBIF information.
GBIF is very clear on one thing: free and
open access to biodiversity information
must be assured. The information that is
shared through GBIF is publicly available
but there are some very important
intellectual property rights (IPR) principles
that those who wish to share data must
understand. GBIF has created the
necessary agreements for contributors to
sign before they share their data openly
through the facility.
Information Types
The relationship between primary data and
other types of data can be illustrated in a
pyramid. Primary data, which is really
observation data for certain species found in
a certain place at a certain time, is
represented by the base of this pyramid.
From this basic information, more refined,
aggregated forms of information important
for decision makers, such as species home
pages and integrated pest management
systems, are created.
GBIF’s activities are currently occurring at
the base of the pyramid. Other initiatives
like the Clearing House Mechanism might
occur at the top level of the pyramid, while
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
Pyramid of information
Pyramid of information
Policy and decisions
can benefit from
Knowledge
and
Information
which depend on
Primary data
GBIF area of
responsibility
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
GBIF IPR (
Intellectual Property Rights
) Principles
GBIF IPR (
Intellectual Property Rights
) Principles
GBIF will seek to ensure that
GBIF will seek to ensure that
data in GBIF-affiliated databases is in public domain
data in GBIF-affiliated databases is in public domain
In particular data that enable linking with other data
In particular data that enable linking with other data
source of data is acknowledged by all users
source of data is acknowledged by all users
Cf. open source licenses, commons
Cf. open source licenses, commons
Maintenance and control of data remain with database
Maintenance and control of data remain with database
owners
owners
There will be no central data banks (except caches &
There will be no central data banks (except caches &
metadata)
metadata)
Database owners can block access to sensitive data
Database owners can block access to sensitive data
GBIF services will mainly be integrative metadata services
GBIF services will mainly be integrative metadata services
and promotion of standards
and promotion of standards
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