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 85
8/30/2004
issues must be considered in the
management of the information.
In that context, the Alexander von Humboldt
Biodiversity Research Institute started the
implementation of an information system in
2001 that is now the Biodiversity Information
System (SIB, the acronym for Sistema de
Información sobre Biodiversidad) of
Colombia. Following the publication of the
17th Article of the CBD and the national
biodiversity policies, and according to
different national biodiversity strategies, the
system was developed as a component of
the Environmental Information System for
Colombia (SIAC). But SIAC is currently
under construction. This system is mainly
supported by the Global Environment
Facility (GEF) World Bank Andes project.
The Humboldt Institute is the focal point of
IABIN and the Clearing House Mechanism
(CHM), and intends to be a data provider to
the Global Biodiversity Information Facility
(GBIF). The SIB assumes the responsibility
of coordinating the interaction among them.
The Institute is developing a system of
systems to coordinate all of those who
generate, use, or are interested in
biodiversity. Three types of users have been
identified – those that are involved in the
system (e.g. manage, use, or generate
information); those that are interested in the
system (at the level of decision-makers);
and the general public. The system consists
of datasets, data managers, databases,
structure, networks, and nodes of
information that could be regional or
thematic.
Examples of the networks and databases in
this system include the Biological
Collections Information Network and the
Colombian Invasive Species Database
(CISD). The CISD is not part of a thematic
or regional network inside Colombia. The
database is intended to be part of the
regional network of the Inter-American
Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN), for
example – the Invasives Information
Network (I3N), and that is what the Institute
is working toward.
Modeling Database Development
The CISD represents the first attempt to
organize the information available for
identifying and studying invasive species in
Colombia – whether they are alien or not.
Information is also being collected about
native species that could become invasive.
The database is focusing on obtaining and
uploading information from secondary
sources, and organizing it according to the
guidelines established by the SIB.
…for each unit or biological record
(BR) (e.g. genes, communities,
species, ecosystem etc.), five
questions are answered: what, when,
where, who and how?
The SIB has developed a model for
biological records where for each unit or
biological record (BR) (e.g. genes,
communities, species, ecosystem etc.), five
questions are answered: what, when,
where, who and how? Every unit that is
recorded is tied to those references and
every reference is supported by a reference
database that is provided or recommended
by the system, and made available online.
System of systems
Colombian Invasive Species Database (CISD)
Andean Wetlands Information System
Biological collections information network
National Network of Birdwatchers
Traditional knowledge and use of biodiversity database
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