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National Bioinformatics Initiatives The National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII)The NBII is a broad, collaborative program to provide increased access to data and information on the nation's biological resources. The NBII links diverse, high-quality biological databases, information products, and analytical tools maintained by NBII partners and other contributors in government agencies, academic institutions, non-government organizations, and private industry. NBII partners and collaborators also work on new standards, tools, and technologies that make it easier to find, integrate, and apply biological resources information. Gap Analysis Program (GAP) "Gap analysis" is a scientific means for assessing to what extent native animal and plant species are being protected. A gap analysis can be performed at a state, local, regional, or national level. Gap analysis emerged from the realization that a species-by-species approach to conservation is not effective because it does not address the continual loss and fragmentation of natural landscapes. Only by protecting regions already rich in habitat, can we adequately protect the animal species that inhabit them. The goal of of the National Gap Analysis Program is to keep common species common by identifying those species and plant communities that are not adequately represented in existing conservation lands. Common species are those not threatened with extinction. By identifying their habitats, GAP gives land managers, planners, scientists, and policy makers the information they need to make better-informed decisions when identifying priority areas for conservation. Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) A partnership of several federal science agencies, ITIS focuses on the organization of, and access to, standardized nomenclature for North American species. The goal of ITIS is to create an easily accessible database with reliable information on species names and their hierarchical classification. The database is reviewed periodically to ensure high quality with valid classifications, revisions, and additions of newly described species. ITIS includes documented taxonomic information of flora and fauna from both aquatic and terrestrial habitats. Regional and Hemispheric Bioinformatics Initiatives Inter American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN)IABIN is an Internet-based forum for technical and scientific cooperation that seeks to promote greater coordination among Western Hemisphere countries in the collection, sharing, and use of biodiversity information relevant to decision-making and education. IABIN is an initiative of the Summit of the Americas on Sustainable Development. 32 countries in the Americas have designated official IABIN Focal Points to coordinate national efforts to implement the network. The NBII is the U.S. Focal Point for IABIN. Environmental Research Information Network (ERIN) ERIN provides environmental information for policy developers and decision makers. ERIN is a national facility in Australia, using the latest computing technology to provide access to a vast reservoir of information on the Australian environment, and the analytical tools to interpret it. Global Bioinformatics Initiatives The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)The purpose of GBIF is to make the world's biodiversity data freely and universally available. Functionally, GBIF encourages, coordinates and supports the development of worldwide capacity to access the vast amount of biodiversity data held in natural history museum collections, libraries and databanks. Near term GBIF developments will focus on species and specimen-level data. Technically, GBIF is evolving to be an interoperable network of biodiversity databases and information technology tools using web services and Grid technologies. In the near term, GBIF will provide a global metadata registry of the available biodiversity data with open interfaces. In the long term, molecular, genetic, ecological and ecosystem level databases can be linked to the system, facilitating and enabling data mining of unprecedented utility and scientific merit. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) At the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, world leaders agreed on a comprehensive strategy for "sustainable development" -- meeting our needs while ensuring that we leave a healthy and viable world for future generations. One of the key agreements adopted at Rio was the Convention on Biological Diversity. This pact among the vast majority of the world's governments sets out commitments for maintaining the world's ecological underpinnings as we go about the business of economic development. The Convention establishes three main goals: the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable use of its components, and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of genetic resources. Because expertise in managing information and technology varies enormously from country to country, the Convention has established a "clearing-house mechanism" to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation, within and between countries; develop a global mechanism for exchanging and integrating information on biodiversity; and to develop the necessary human and technological network. A network of national focal points for the mechanism is being established to address matters relating to technical and scientific cooperation. Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) GISP's mission is to conserve biodiversity and sustain human livelihoods by minimizing the spread and impact of invasive alien species. GISP aims to achieve this mission by providing a global vision and by catalyzing efforts to implement this vision at all scales. GISP operates through a "Partnership Network" comprised of scientific and technical experts on IAS issues from around the world. GISP stakeholders are its Partners - governments, intergovernmental organizations, non- governmental organizations, academic institutions, and the private sector. Although GISP Partners can be found the world over, its services are primarily intended to benefit developing countries and the institutions that support sustainable development. International Council on Scientific and Technical Information (ICSTI) ICSTI is an international, nonprofit organization of over 50 institutions from 13 countries that is dedicated to increasing accessibility to and awareness of scientific and technical information. ICSTI provides a forum for sharing interests and expertise across scientific and technical disciplines and across international boundaries. Species 2000 Species 2000 is a "federation" of database organisations working closely with users, taxonomists and sponsoring agencies to create an array of participant global species databases covering each of the major groups of organisms. The goal of Species 2000 is to provide a uniform and validated quality index of names of the world's known species for use as a practical tool. The World Conservation Union (IUCN) IUCN members from some 140 countries include over 70 States, 100 government agencies, and 750-plus NGOs have generated environmental conventions, global standards, scientific knowledge and innovative leadership for more than 50 years. IUCN partnerships between institutions and people manage and restore ecosystems and protect threatened species, promote the sharing of costs and benefits of conservation and the sustainable use of nature and natural resources, and provide society with the information and tools it needs to secure a sustainable future. |