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This is the 3rd e-conference organized by
the ENBI Forums team http://www.enbi.info/forums/. The issue
of the convenience (or not) of a European node has surfaced
several times in the recent discussions and meetings. The
option of having an European GBIF node is perceived by some
current national node managers as an unnecessary "middle-man"
between the national nodes and GBIF at the international level
(GB, SC, secretariat).
However, the fact that key and very relevant
activities are taking place in Europe regarding Biodiversity
Information is undeniable. It has been observed elsewhere
that certain developments tend to occur in concurrently and
in some circumstances in total isolation and lack of coordination
with the other initiatives. To bridge the gaps and find ways
to promote cooperation and to better-know what we know on
biodiversity will be beneficial for the GBIF activities in
Europe and for GBIF at large.
The practical aim of this third e-conference
is to produce a document to explore ways to improve the participation
of Europe. In this regards, participants from all areas involved
(scientists, natural history collection administrators, conservation
community, decision-makers) are welcome to contribute.
Opening
statement and moderation by Dr. Yde de Jong
Working document structure
- Europe in GBIF: what it is, what
it can be
- Countries that are not yet members
of GBIF
- The political (administrative)
considerations
- Can/Should the European
Commission recommend countries to join GBIF?
- Can/should ENBI recommend
the Commission to make recommendations?
- Can individual countries
encourage non-GBIF members to join?
- GBIF Secretariat:
- Has GBIF the right
instruments (MoU, personnel, showcase,..)
to facilitate to bring in countries?
- What extra efforts
need to be made? (how, when, etc.)
- The scientific (data) aspects
- How can scientific activities
from non-member countries be incorporated into
GBIF?
- Mentoring:
- Issues to be considered
before start
- Approaches to mentoring
- Fostering mentoring
among European organizations and countries.
- European activities/projects
not incorporated in GBIF (and which are of great relevance)
- Identify them
- Promote contacts and collaboration
among stakeholders that can be translated into real
participation in GBIF
- Approaches to GBIF
- From the systematics community
- Pros, cons (strengths, weaknesses)
- From the conservation community
- Pros, cons (strengths, weaknesses)
- Others
- Pros, cons (strengths, weaknesses)
- Integration and use of heterogeneous
data
- Does GBIF need to deal with
it?
- Ways to make data more useful
- A GBIF European node: Problem or
solution?
- Middle man
- Way to incorporate activities
from non-GBIF countries
- Clearinghouse for European GBIF
nodes
- Long term solution for the continuity
issue of some European initiatives (ENBI, BioCase, Euro+Med
plant Base, Fauna Europaea)
- GBIF gateway to EEA and European-CHM
information.
- Relevant links (mentioned or pointed
out during the e-conference)
[Section aims to provide either
top level links to or so-far-poorly-known relevant activities
and/or partners in the GBIF community in Europe]
- Top level links (e.g.: www.gbif.org)
- To-be-better-known links: (e.g.:
http://eunis.eea.eu.int/index.jsp
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E-conference organization:
Real Jardín Botánico and Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Spain.
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