Bonnie C. Carroll

1
Presentation at the Joint International Forum on
Biodiversity Information ? Tsukuba, Japan
The Inter-American Biodiversity Information
Network An Initiative of Regional Cooperation
and Capacity Building

• Bonnie C. Carroll
• Senior Consultant
• ? National Biological Information Infrastructure
  ?
• US Geological Survey

October 5, 2003
2
ROOTS of IABIN National Requirements

• Grew out of domestic efforts in Mexico, Colombia,
  Costa Rica, Brazil and U.S.
• Concept Lower barriers to information-sharing
• Supports regional efforts to bring initiatives
  together (find targets of opportunity)
• Provides opportunities to main-stream
  biodiversity information

3
IABIN Initiative 31 of the Bolivian Summit
Action Plan
1996

• Seek to establish an Inter-American Biodiversity
  Information Network, primarily through the
  Internet, that will promote compatible means of
  collection, communication, and exchange of
  information relevant to decision-making and
  education on biodiversity conservation, and that
  builds upon such initiatives as the
  Clearing-House Mechanism provided for in the
  United Nations Convention on Biological
  Diversity, the Man and Biosphere Network (MABNET
  Americas), and the Biodiversity Conservation
  Information System (BCIS), an initiative of nine
  programs of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
  and partner organizations.

4
IABIN Initiative 31 of the Bolivian Summit
Action Plan
1996

• Seek to establish an Inter-American Biodiversity
  Information Network, primarily through the
  Internet, that will promote compatible means of
  collection, communication, and exchange of
  information relevant to decision-making and
  education on biodiversity conservation, and that
  builds upon such initiatives as the
  Clearing-House Mechanism provided for in the
  United Nations Convention on Biological
  Diversity, the Man and Biosphere Network (MABNET
  Americas), and the Biodiversity Conservation
  Information System (BCIS), an initiative of nine
  programs of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
  and partner organizations.

5
IABIN Initiative 31 of the Bolivian Summit
Action Plan
1996

• Seek to establish an Inter-American Biodiversity
  Information Network, primarily through the
  Internet, that will promote compatible means of
  collection, communication, and exchange of
  information relevant to decision-making and
  education on biodiversity conservation, and that
  builds upon such initiatives as the
  Clearing-House Mechanism provided for in the
  United Nations Convention on Biological
  Diversity, the Man and Biosphere Network (MABNET
  Americas), and the Biodiversity Conservation
  Information System (BCIS), an initiative of nine
  programs of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
  and partner organizations.

6
IABIN Initiative 31 of the Bolivian Summit
Action Plan
1996

• Seek to establish an Inter-American Biodiversity
  Information Network, primarily through the
  Internet, that will promote compatible means of
  collection, communication, and exchange of
  information relevant to decision-making and
  education on biodiversity conservation, and that
  builds upon such initiatives as the
  Clearing-House Mechanism provided for in the
  United Nations Convention on Biological
  Diversity, the Man and Biosphere Network (MABNET
  Americas), and the Biodiversity Conservation
  Information System (BCIS), an initiative of nine
  programs of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
  and partner organizations.

7
IABIN Initiative 31 of the Bolivian Summit
Action Plan
1996

• Seek to establish an Inter-American Biodiversity
  Information Network, primarily through the
  Internet, that will promote compatible means of
  collection, communication, and exchange of
  information relevant to decision-making and
  education on biodiversity conservation, and that
  builds upon such initiatives as the
  Clearing-House Mechanism provided for in the
  United Nations Convention on Biological
  Diversity, the Man and Biosphere Network (MABNET
  Americas), and the Biodiversity Conservation
  Information System (BCIS), an initiative of nine
  programs of the World Conservation Union (IUCN)
  and partner organizations.

8
Key Principles of IABINThe First Concepts

• Distributed no large central institution
• Broadly inclusive collaboration is key
• Oriented toward science backed by government
  policy
• Opportunistic in selecting/collecting data and
  tools
• Move quickly to develop tangible products

9
IABIN Principles Addressing Additional Concerns

• Ownership and control of information is retained
  by information provider
• Intellectual property rights are respected and
  sources acknowledged by users
• Free and open access is encouraged

10
The Vision of IABIN
IABIN will be an open, self-sustaining network
where users that need biodiversity information
can find quality, relevant information in a
timely manner.
11
Process of Implementation is a Series of
Iterative Objectives
Getting Endorsements
12
IABIN is the Result of an Intense Process of
Deliberation and Action A Chronology

• 1996 Bolivian Summit Issues Initiative 31
• 1997 Many bilateral and multilateral discussions
  
• First Meeting of Experts OAS-1
• 1998 Second Meeting of Experts OAS-2
• 1999 Brazil Establishment Meeting
• OAS Inter-American Committee on
  Sustainable Development (CIDS) endorses IABIN
  Formal Launch
• First IABIN Council Meeting, Miami
• 2000 Initiation of I3N
• 2001 Quebec Presidential Summit Plan of Action
  Endorses IABIN
• 2002 Second IABIN Council Meeting, Miami
• 650K GEF Grant Awarded
• 2003 Third IABIN Council, Cancun
• (Submit PIP for GEF Funding)

13
Early Challenges of Creating IABIN

• Data quality and standards
• Intellectual property (community information has
  unique aspects)
• Data restrictions and sensitivities
• Economic evaluation of biodiversity information
• Taxonomygeo-referencing to common standards
• Data supplier involvement (commitment incentive)
• Public/private issues
• Dictionary catalogvocabularies or
  Meta-vocabularies
• Identifying and narrowing objectives/scope of
  IABIN
• Identifying user requirements
• Lack of awareness understanding of biodiversity
  impacts
• Special issues of small countries
• Technology infrastructure/access to technology
• Financial viability, short-, mid-, long-term

14
Visibility and Involvement Must Grow
Systematically
15
Ground 0, Brazil Meeting, April 15-18, 1999
Launching IABIN

• Assume general agreement on a governance model
• Continue activities of steering committee and
  Chair (at a minimum)
• Recognize host or interim host organization
• Determine who will have responsibility for next
  major review meeting or how that will be
  determined
• Begin input to the Agreement of Principles
• Identify which pilots will go forward and who
  will lead
• Identify other necessary technical working groups
  and Chairs

16
To Guide Development Many Studies Were Completed

• Mid-term Work Plan (Brazil 1998)
• Internet Topology and Connectivity in the
  Americas (1999)
• Information Exchange Technical Issues (1999)
• Information Exchange Legal and Institutional
  Issues (1999)
• Inter-American Biodiversity Information network
  Invasive Species in the Americas Pilot Projects
  (1999)
• IABIN Financial Sustainability 2002
• Many Presentations on status of networks and
  initiatives (at every meeting)

17
Governance Documents were Created to Provide
Structure ?

• Rules of Procedure
• Criteria for Membership
• Criteria for Hub Selection
• List of Potential Pilot Projects
• Criteria for Pilot Project Selection

? Revised at First Council Meeting
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Criteria for Selecting and Designing Pilot
Projects

• Advances technical objective(s)
• Advances creation of network
• Adds value through regional/subregional extension
• Addresses transnational issues/resources
• Addresses a real problem
• Opportunistic low hanging fruit
• Has relevancy for decision-making
• Do-able

19
Management Structure was Put in Place

• Focal Points constituting the Council
• Chair (Interim)?
• Executive Committee (Interim Steering Committee)?

?Formalized at First Council Meeting
20
Governance Structure Today

• IABIN Council
• Official IABIN Focal Points (34 countries, to
  date)
• IGO representatives (CHM, GBIF, NABIN)
• NGO representatives (NatureServe, CRIA, etc.)
• Representatives from ITIS, Species 2000, ATCC,
  universities, etc.,
• IABIN Executive Committee
• 8 countries 1 IGO/NGO ? GBIF
• IABIN Planning Team (in lieu of IABIN
  Hub/Secretariat)

All voices, consensus decisions
21
Tools for Communication Were Put in Place

• Visual Identify
• Website
• Listservs

22
Projects in Information and Cooperation Are Key
23
Projects in Information and Cooperation Are Key

• Study and inventory of European Collections of
  New World Vertebrates

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Projects in Information and Cooperation Are Key

• Study and inventory of European Collections of
  New World Vertebrates
• Directory of New World Holdings in European
  Collections

25
Projects in Information and Cooperation Are Key

• Study and inventory of European Collections of
  New World Vertebrates
• Directory of New World Holdings in European
  Collections
• Examination of metadata standards in Mesoamerica
  related to biological dataset and development of
  information clearinghouses

26
Projects in Information and Cooperation Are Key

• Study and inventory of European Collections of
  New World Vertebrates
• Directory of New World Holdings in European
  Collections
• Examination of metadata standards in Mesoamerica
  related to biological dataset and development of
  information clearinghouses
• Training of Latin American computer specialists
  in distributed database technology and synthetic
  analytical applications

27
Projects in Information and Cooperation Are Key

• Study and inventory of European Collections of
  New World Vertebrates
• Directory of New World Holdings in European
  Collections
• Examination of metadata standards in Mesoamerica
  related to biological dataset and development of
  information clearinghouses
• Training of Latin American computer specialists
  in distributed database technology and synthetic
  analytical applications
• IABIN Invasives Information Network (I3N)

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I3N IABIN Invasives Information Network

• Inventory of invasive species, experts, projects,
  datasets
• Standardized metadata available via Web
• 11 countries funded by U.S. State Department
• 3 new countries joining with their own funding
• Software, modeling tools provided
• Program managed by USGS International Biological
  Informatics Program

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Pilot Project

• Metadata on invasive species information
• Web accessible
• Distributed
• - Local ownership
• Integrated
• Common standards
• Single entry point
• Search across nodes

I3N
IABIN Invasives Information Network
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Obtaining Needed Resources is a Constant Challenge
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Obtaining Needed Resources is a Constant Challenge

• Progress to date, thanks to funding from
• OAS
• World Bank (Netherlands Japan)
• USAID
• US State Department
• USGS/NBII
• Brazil (Ministry of Environment)
• In-kind contributions from participants

32
Obtaining Needed Resources is a Constant Challenge

• Progress to date, thanks to funding from
• OAS
• World Bank (Netherlands Japan)
• USAID
• US State Department
• USGS/NBII
• Brazil (Ministry of Environment)
• In-kind contributions from participants
• Current Financial Picture
• IABIN Planning Team support continues
• I3N Project funded by U.S. State Department

33
Obtaining Needed Resources is a Constant Challenge

• Progress to date, thanks to funding from
• OAS
• World Bank (Netherlands Japan)
• USAID
• US State Department
• USGS/NBII
• Brazil (Ministry of Environment)
• In-kind contributions from participants
• Current Financial Picture
• IABIN Planning Team support continues
• I3N Project funded by U.S. State Department
• Financial sustainability study completed
• GEF awards 650K grant for consultative process

34
Financial Sustainability Strategy

• Recommends a combination of sources
• International and bilateral agencies
• Private foundations
• Main environmental NGOs
• Fees from country members
• Corporations
• Universities and research institutes

35
IABIN GEF PROJECT

• 650K Planning Grant
• World Bank is funding agency
• OAS is executing agency
• IABIN Executive Committee directs and reviews
• Consultants perform work
• Regional Coordinator Alberto Oriza-Barrios
• 7 Sub-Regional Specialists

Region 5 Caribbean
Region 4 Venez/Guy/ Sur/TrinTob
36
IABIN GEF PROJECT

• Scope
• Inventory of resources and requirements
• Development of architecture and implementation
  plan
• International web site (www.iabin.net)
• Third IABIN Council Meeting
• Proposal to GEF for a full-size project (4 - 5
  million over 5 years)

37
IABIN GEF PROJECT

• Third IABIN Council Meeting
• June 2003, Cancun, Mexico
• Held jointly with CHM GRULAC Regional
• Includes GBIF participation
• Harmonizing the Visions
• Consideration of architecture, implementation
  plan
• Concurrence on next steps

38
FINAL GEF PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REWORKED AND WILL
REQUEST 6M over 5 years
39
FINAL GEF PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REWORKED AND WILL
REQUEST 6M over 5 years

• Interoperability and Access to Data
• Basic network infrastructure to search and access
  biodiversity data
• IABIN Catalog Service
• Thematic Networks

40
FINAL GEF PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REWORKED AND WILL
REQUEST 6M over 5 years

• Interoperability and Access to Data
• Basic network infrastructure to search and access
  biodiversity data
• IABIN Catalog Service
• Thematic Networks
• Data Content Creation
• Provide data providers the tools, training and
  physical capacity to make data available

41
FINAL GEF PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REWORKED AND WILL
REQUEST 6M over 5 years

• Interoperability and Access to Data
• Basic network infrastructure to search and access
  biodiversity data
• IABIN Catalog Service
• Thematic Networks
• Data Content Creation
• Provide data providers the tools, training and
  physical capacity to make data available
• Information Products for Decision Makers
• Visualization and data integration tools
• Improve the usability of data in the decision
  making process

42
FINAL GEF PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REWORKED AND WILL
REQUEST 6M over 5 years

• Interoperability and Access to Data
• Basic network infrastructure to search and access
  biodiversity data
• IABIN Catalog Service
• Thematic Networks
• Data Content Creation
• Provide data providers the tools, training and
  physical capacity to make data available
• Information Products for Decision Makers
• Visualization and data integration tools
• Improve the usability of data in the decision
  making process
• Sustainability of IABIN
• IABIN Secretariat (Operational Sustainability),
• Partnerships and Communications
• IABIN Foundation,
• Other financial strategies

43
FINAL GEF PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REWORKED AND WILL
REQUEST 6M over 5 years

• Interoperability and Access to Data
• Basic network infrastructure to search and access
  biodiversity data
• IABIN Catalog Service
• Thematic Networks
• Data Content Creation
• Provide data providers the tools, training and
  physical capacity to make data available
• Information Products for Decision Makers
• Visualization and data integration tools
• Improve the usability of data in the decision
  making process
• Sustainability of IABIN
• IABIN Secretariat (Operational Sustainability),
• Partnerships and Communications
• IABIN Foundation,
• Other financial strategies
• Administration
• Costs of the Executing Agency (contracting,
  procurement, disbursements, audits, etc.)

44
Priority for Project Networks for Initial Funding

• Specimen Network
• Species Network
• Ecosystems Network Protected Areas
• Invasive Species Network
• Pollinators Network

45
Geopolitical Collaboration
Global Biodiversity Information Facility
(GBIF) Clearinghouse Mechanism (CHM)
IABIN NABIN
NBII (US) CBIN (Canada) REMIB (Mexico) ATTA
(Costa Rica)
TNC State Heritage/CDCs Protected Areas
Information
46
Relationships Among the BINs and BIFs
47
Complementary Relationship to the Clearinghouse
Mechanism
48
Ties with the CHM

• Countries encouraged to designate CHM Focal Point
  as IABIN Focal Point
• MOU signed by IABIN Council and CBD Secretariat
  calls for close cooperation
• IABIN GEF Project will support CHM implementation
  in Western Hemisphere
• CHM and IABIN jointly sponsored 3rd IABIN Council
  Meeting

49
Ties with GBIF

• IABIN is an Associate Member of GBIF
• Eight IABIN countries are GBIF members
• IABIN participants lead Science Subcommittees
• IABIN supports national membership, but will
  build a node for non-member data

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International Collaborations Ensure
Complementarity
IABIN COUNCIL

• CHM representative

• GBIF representative

CHM

• NABIN representative

GBIF

• Associate membership

• MOC

• Rep on IAC

• Common FPs

• Individual country participation (7 to date)

NABIN

• Canadian FP
• Mexican FP
• U.S. FP

• Committee leadership

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FOR MORE INFORMATION . . .

• Visit ltwww.iabin.netgt and ltwww.iabin.orggt
• Subscribe to the IABINfriends Listserv (see
  website)
• Email address bcarroll_at_infointl.com