Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Biodiversity Information Management at SANBI
Mobilising Biodiversity Information in Support of
Science and Policy
Fatima Parker-Allie
28 October 2014
Overview
• SANBI Background and Value Chain
• SABIF
• Capacity Development
• Regional Engagement
• Data Mobilization
• Informatics Platforms
• The South African National Biodiversity Institute was established under the National Environmental Management Act, No. 10 of 2004. This act places a strong responsibility on SANBI to monitor and report to the Minister on (and amongst others),
– the status of the Republic’s biodiversity;
– the status of all listed invasive species;
– the conservation of all listed and threatened or protected species;
– the coordination and promotion of the taxonomy of South Africa’s biodiversity
• One of SANBI’s very clear mandates are to “Collect, generate, process, coordinate and disseminate information about biodiversity and sustainable use of indigenous biological resources and maintain databases”.
• As a knowledge-based organisation, biodiversity information is the key resource which drive research and innovation, and informs planning and policy development processes, to support national development objectives.
SANBI Background
SANBI’s value chain builds from a foundation of basic scientific information to create assessments and monitoring that can influence policy and contribute to government objectives.
Hu
man
Cap
ital
De
velo
pm
en
t
The SANBI Value Chain
NBA 2018
NBA
National Biodiversity Assessment
1. Provides headline indicators for monitoring and reporting
2. Summarises spatial biod priorities
3. Based on best avail science
NBSAP National
Biodiversity Strategy & Action Plan
1. Broad and
comprehensive
2. Sets strategic objectives
3. Sets long term targets
4. Based on stakeholder consultation
NBF
National
Biodiversity
Framework
1. Focused
2. Identifies top priority actions and targets for next five years
Informs Informs
CB
D R
equ
irem
ent
Bio
div
ersi
ty A
ct
Req
uir
emen
t
NB
A in
form
s N
BSA
P a
nd
NB
F
Establishment of SABIF
• South Africa became a country participant in GBIF in 2003
• Here, a decision was made by the (DST) that being a member of the GBIF would assist South Africa in meeting its own need to
– develop a stronger network of biodiversity informatics professionals,
– to develop the science of biodiversity informatics,
– to expedite the dissemination of biodiversity data
– And to share data using common data standards and tools
• DST thus made a decision to fund GBIF-related activities, which ultimately became linked to the government’s mandate to develop a ten-year innovation plan, which strives to drive the transformation of South Africa’s economy from a resource-based economy to a knowledge-based economy, in which production and dissemination of knowledge leads to economic benefits
• The GBIF/SABIF platform is one such innovative science initiative, which ultimately enables generation of knowledge, through the initial building blocks of data mobilization, and contributes to the South African government’s broader motives.
• SABIF (the country node of GBIF) was initiated, to address the country’s need for a knowledge-management system for researchers, policy makers, and conservation scientists and practitioners to access, share, and disseminate primary biodiversity data, while at the same time having access to global information relevant to South Africa.
• SABIF Node is a programme of the Biodiversity Information Management and Planning Directorate of SANBI
• SABIF is a vibrant community , with > 18 organisations in the country engaged in data sharing activities.
• Africa wide Partnerships with more than 20 GBIF participant countries and international organisations.
SABIF:Key objectives and strengths through its
network of Partners:
SA become a country participant -2003 (>10 yrs old)
• Data mobilisation through a funded process (> R1m / yr) • Capacity building initiatives (implementation of a strategy) • Growing networks in BIM, awareness raising and outreach • Regional engagement and leadership • Promoting data sharing through implementation of data
standards
SO1. Grow relevant skills
University departments
Students
UWC – SANBI MoU
Postgrad research hub
Bursaries
Intern programme
GreenMatter
SO2. Build a robust team
SANBI BIM staff (SABIF)
Internal learning sessions
Training
Recruitment
Skills matrix and development plan
SO3. Improve quality and use of information
Data providers
Data users
Training
Providers: Data mobilisation and
fitness for use
Users: Website use
Modeling
SO4. Grow an inspired coordinated network
Current and potential users and
providers
BIMF
User needs analysis
Communication and marketing
Holistic Approach to Capacity Development Ta
rget
mar
kets
A
ctiv
itie
s
Research Agenda and Curricula Development
• A conceptual Framework for advancing the field of biodiversity informatics, through the establishment of curricula and the identification of key research questions or areas – is being developed.
• Forms part of the UWC-SANBI initiative to further develop a post-graduate research hub in Biodiversity Information Management at the UWC, to drive towards the establishment of a Southern Africa Centre of Excellence in Biodiversity Informatics
• 1st Post doc started in October, to support the development of a Biodiversity Informatics Research Strategy and to grow the Postgraduate Hub to a Centre of Excellence.
Regional Engagement
• In Africa, a strong regional collaboration has developed and the Nodes (approx 23) are working towards a data-science interface. Africa has also established a GBIF-Africa Science Committee and identified a thematic priority project to mobilise invasive alien species.
• To support a data-science interface, a project which aims to mobilise policy relevant data has been developed by SANBI with support from GBIF, and has been funded by the JRS foundation.
July 2010 March 2011 Sept 2011
Planning meeting In Kenya
ACM meeting in South Africa
2nd Regional meeting in
South Africa
Identified the need For An action plan
July 2012
3rd Regional meeting, Rwanda
ARCOS
June 2010 April 2013
4th Regional meeting in
South Africa
July 2014
5th Regional Meeting, Benin
Google Plus: Mobilising Africa’s Biodiversity Data
11,665,938 biodiversity records are served via the SABIF website
12 245
9 294 709
85 786
285 980
44 232 1 868 311
74 675
AmphibiansBirdsFishInvertebratesMammalsPlantsReptiles
Data from data providers and grant recipients
Currently approximately 14 million (from > 15 organisations) has been mobilized (figure includes the delivery on all outstanding projects)
More data
Data on a new kingdom – Fungi Ticks, dung beetles, nematodes, seaweeds, plants etc
Data Applications/ Uses of Primary Biodiversity Data
Climate change studies, Niche Modelling, Land use planning and management, Use as indicator species and for determining environmental health
specimens observations
images
S. Van Noordt R. Jacobs
• Two mechanisms of data sharing exist for Data Providers/publishers:
1. Data can be shared by data providers/publishers following the signing of a data sharing agreement (non-funded)
– Currently 7 data providers exist including museums, research institutions, herbaria and universities
2. Data Mobilization through SABIF Funding: Call for Digitization Applications
– Data is provided to SABIF, and hosted on the SABIF server. Ownership remains with the grant recipient
Data Mobilization through SABIF
Taken Forward through FBIP
Content
Tools , user guides and
defined standards
>35 biodiversity
plans
>400 individual map layers
Red list status of 20 456
plant species
120 000 plant species names
> 11.5 million specimen records
Information on 780 animals species
Floristic information and pictures
for over 10 000 plant species
Open & free
access
Grants for research, data mobilization and capacity development: main mechanism for achieving outputs
• Large grants: up to R2 million / year for 3 years
• Themes for large projects: identified by stakeholders who use biodiversity information: biocontrol, soil biodiversity, marine biodiversity, medicinal plants and animals, biodiversity functionality
• 2 large projects / year
• Also small grants that contribute to objectives
• Biodiversity surveys (2013)
Data Use Cases
Provides Legal guidelines on managing biodiversity information, which strives to ensure easy access to information whilst simultaneously providing protection to sensitive data and maintaining intellectual property rights.
At a more global level, Open access to Information has also been addressed as a collective of 34 governments including South Africa - OECD/CST Science, Technology and Innovation for the 21st Century, 29-30 Jan 2004
Policy and Legislation
Biodiversity Information Policy Framework
Chosen strategy to reach the goal (Information Management/Informatics)
• SANBI has has a number of systems and tools in place to support its biodiversity information needs and responsibilities, for the country.
• Biodiversity Advisor provides access to data and content through SANBI’s information systems. More recently a shared national vision for an innovative information architecture has been developed, and will evolve into Biodiversity Advisor 2. This integrated architecture will more easily respond to policy imperatives relating to mining and industry, agriculture, energy etc.
• Thank you to the TDWG Organisation Team and JRS Foundation for facilitating my participation.
Acknowledgements
