<!DOCTYPE html>   <html lang="en" class="not_ie" ng-app="portal" >   <head ng-controller="headCtrl as head"> <title ng-bind="head.getTitle('What is GBIF?')">What is GBIF?</title> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="en" href="https://www.gbif.org/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="ar" href="https://www.gbif.org/ar/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="zh" href="https://www.gbif.org/zh/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="fr" href="https://www.gbif.org/fr/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="ru" href="https://www.gbif.org/ru/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="es" href="https://www.gbif.org/es/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="zh-tw" href="https://www.gbif.org/zh-tw/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="cs" href="https://www.gbif.org/cs/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="ja" href="https://www.gbif.org/ja/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="pl" href="https://www.gbif.org/pl/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="pt" href="https://www.gbif.org/pt/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="uk" href="https://www.gbif.org/uk/what-is-gbif" /> <link rel="alternate" hreflang="x-default" href="https://www.gbif.org/what-is-gbif" /> <meta property="fb:app_id" content="1534726343485342" /> <meta property="og:title" content="What is GBIF?" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.gbif.org/what-is-gbif" /> <meta property="og:description" content="Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Free and Open Access to Biodiversity Data." /> <meta charset="UTF-8">  <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge">  <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, maximum-scale=1.0, user-scalable=no"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="57x57" href="/apple-touch-icon-57x57.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="60x60" href="/apple-touch-icon-60x60.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="72x72" href="/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="76x76" href="/apple-touch-icon-76x76.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="114x114" href="/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="120x120" href="/apple-touch-icon-120x120.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="144x144" href="/apple-touch-icon-144x144.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/apple-touch-icon-152x152.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/apple-touch-icon-180x180.png"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-32x32.png" sizes="32x32"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-194x194.png" sizes="194x194"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-96x96.png" sizes="96x96"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/android-chrome-192x192.png" sizes="192x192"> <link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="/favicon-16x16.png" sizes="16x16"> <link rel="manifest" href="/manifest.json"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/safari-pinned-tab.svg" color="#4c9e45"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/favicon.ico"> <meta name="msapplication-TileColor" content="#00a300"> <meta name="msapplication-TileImage" content="/mstile-144x144.png"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#4c9e45"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/vendor/vendor.css?v=1743678224550"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/css/base/shared/style/index.css?v=1743678224550"> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Roboto:100,100i,300,300i,400,400i,500,500i,700,700i" rel="stylesheet"> <link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=PT+Serif:400i" rel="stylesheet">     <script type="text/javascript"> if (/windows/i.test(navigator.userAgent)) { const style = document.createElement("style"); style.textContent = `@font-face { font-family: "Twemoji Country Flags"; unicode-range: U+1F1E6-1F1FF, U+1F3F4, U+E0062-E0063, U+E0065, U+E0067, U+E006C, U+E006E, U+E0073-E0074, U+E0077, U+E007F; src: url('https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/country-flag-emoji-polyfill@0.1/dist/TwemojiCountryFlags.woff2') format('woff2'); font-display: swap; }`; document.head.appendChild(style); } </script> <noscript> <style> body {display: block !important} .no-js-enabled {display: block !important} .no-js-enabled {position:fixed;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;background-color:rgba(120,181,120,0.99);color:#fff;z-index:9999;text-align:center} .no-js-enabled span{position:relative;top: 50%;-ms-transform: translateY(-50%);transform: translateY(-50%);} </style> </noscript> <script defer data-domain="gbif.org" data-api="/spoor/api/event" src="/spoor/js/script.js"></script> <script> console.log(`%c ,_, (O,O) ( ) Powered by GBIF -"-"- All GBIF mediated data is freely available through our APIs. https://www.gbif.org/developer/summary All GBIF source code is open source. https://github.com/gbif If your interest is the rendered HTML, then you might be developing a plugin. Let us know if you need custom markup, we would love to know what you are building. helpdesk@gbif.org `, 'color: green; font-weight: bold;'); </script> </head> <body class=" env_prod " ng-init="portal.urlPrefix='';BUILD_VERSION=1743678224550" ng-class="{'hasDrawer': portal.getDrawer()}" ng-controller="portalCtrl as portal"> <noscript> <div class="no-js-enabled" style="display: none"><span>We鈥檙e sorry, but GBIF doesn鈥檛 work properly without JavaScript enabled.</span></div> <div class="ie-splash" style="display:none"><span>Our website has detected that you are using an outdated insecure browser that will prevent you from using the site. We suggest you upgrade to a modern browser.</span></div> </noscript> <div class="stickyNav rtl-supported" data-nosnippet ng-class="{'mobileMenu--active': nav.mobileMenuActive, 'mainMenu--firstLevelActive': nav.activeMenu, hasOffset: nav.scrollOffset > 0}" ng-controller="navCtrl as nav"> <div class="stickyNav__container"> <a ng-href="/" id="block-logo" class="gbif-logo"> <svg viewBox="90 239.1 539.7 523.9" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path class="gbif-logo-svg" d="M325.5,495.4c0-89.7,43.8-167.4,174.2-167.4C499.6,417.9,440.5,495.4,325.5,495.4"/> <path class="gbif-logo-svg" d="M534.3,731c24.4,0,43.2-3.5,62.4-10.5c0-71-42.4-121.8-117.2-158.4c-57.2-28.7-127.7-43.6-192.1-43.6 c28.2-84.6,7.6-189.7-19.7-247.4c-30.3,60.4-49.2,164-20.1,248.3c-57.1,4.2-102.4,29.1-121.6,61.9c-1.4,2.5-4.4,7.8-2.6,8.8 c1.4,0.7,3.6-1.5,4.9-2.7c20.6-19.1,47.9-28.4,74.2-28.4c60.7,0,103.4,50.3,133.7,80.5C401.3,704.3,464.8,731.2,534.3,731"/> </svg> </a> <div class="stickyNav__actions"> <a href="" class="stickyNav__actions__action gb-icon-heartbeat stickyNav__actions__action--notification ng-cloak" ng-click="nav.toggleNotifications()" ng-if="nav.notifications.count > 0" ng-class="{'is-info': nav.notifications.severity == 'INFO'}"></a> <a href="" class="stickyNav__actions__action gb-icon-heartbeat" ng-href="{{ portal.urlPrefix }}/system-health" ng-if="!nav.notifications || nav.notifications.count == 0"></a> <a href="" class="stickyNav__actions__action gb-icon-translate" ng-click="nav.toggleLanguage()"></a> <a href="" class="stickyNav__actions__action gb-icon-search2" ng-click="nav.toggleSearch()"></a> <a href="" class="stickyNav__actions__action gb-icon-bubble" ng-click="nav.toggleFeedback()" ng-class="{'stickyNav__actions__action--notification': nav.commentCount}"></a> <a href="" class="stickyNav__actions__menu gb-icon-menu" ng-click="nav.toggleMobileMenu()" ng-class="{'gb-icon-close_L': nav.mobileMenuActive, 'gb-icon-menu': !nav.mobileMenuActive}"></a> <a class="stickyNav__actions__login" href="" ng-click="nav.toggleUserMenu()"> <span class="service-menu__button hoverBox"> <div class="inline-block"> <span class="ng-cloak">{{nav.loginGreeting}}</span> </div> </span> </a> </div> <div class="mainNavigation" ng-class="{'isActive': nav.mobileMenuActive}"> <nav class="mainMenu" click-outside="nav.toggleMenu()"> <ul> <li class="mainMenu--hasChild mainMenu__firstLevel " ng-class="{'mainMenu--childActive': nav.activeMenu == 'Get data'}" > <a class=" mainMenu__parentItem" href="" ng-click="nav.toggleMenu('Get data')" dir="auto">Get data</a> <ul class="mainMenu__childGroup"> <li class="mainMenu__columns"> <nav><h2></h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a dir="auto" href="/occurrence/search?occurrence_status=present">Occurrences </a> </li> <li > <a dir="auto" href="https://techdocs.gbif.org/">GBIF API <span class="gb-icon-link"></span> </a> </li> <li > <a dir="auto" href="/species/search">Species </a> </li> <li > <a dir="auto" href="/dataset/search">Datasets </a> </li> <li > <a dir="auto" href="/occurrence-snapshots">Occurrence snapshots </a> </li> <li > <a dir="auto" href="/hosted-portals">Hosted portals </a> </li> <li > <a dir="auto" href="/analytics/global">Trends </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mainMenu--hasChild mainMenu__firstLevel mainMenu--hasGrandChild >" ng-class="{'mainMenu--childActive': nav.activeMenu == 'How-to'}" > <a class=" mainMenu__parentItem" href="" ng-click="nav.toggleMenu('How-to')" dir="auto">How-to</a> <ul class="mainMenu__childGroup"> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">Share data</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/publishing-data" dir="auto">Quick-start guide </a> </li> <li > <a href="/dataset-classes" dir="auto">Dataset classes </a> </li> <li > <a href="/article/4qfLORxmM8kYOIwSYSMc2M/data-hosting" dir="auto">Data hosting </a> </li> <li > <a href="/standards" dir="auto">Standards </a> </li> <li > <a href="/become-a-publisher" dir="auto">Become a publisher </a> </li> <li > <a href="/data-quality-requirements" dir="auto">Data quality </a> </li> <li > <a href="/data-papers" dir="auto">Data papers </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">Use data</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/resource/search?contentType=dataUse" dir="auto">Featured data use </a> </li> <li > <a href="/citation-guidelines" dir="auto">Citation guidelines </a> </li> <li > <a href="/resource/search?contentType=literature" dir="auto">GBIF citations </a> </li> <li > <a href="/article/1E6v02SFQyhupvB7JqDXPN" dir="auto">Citation widget </a> </li> <li > <a href="/composition/3NZQV4dMHw154WEwu4TqDw" dir="auto">Guides and documentation </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mainMenu--hasChild mainMenu__firstLevel mainMenu--hasGrandChild >" ng-class="{'mainMenu--childActive': nav.activeMenu == 'Tools'}" > <a class=" mainMenu__parentItem" href="" ng-click="nav.toggleMenu('Tools')" dir="auto">Tools</a> <ul class="mainMenu__childGroup"> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">Publishing</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/ipt" dir="auto">IPT </a> </li> <li > <a href="/tools/data-validator" dir="auto">Data validator </a> </li> <li > <a href="https://geopick.gbif.org/" dir="auto">GeoPick <span class="gb-icon-link"></span> </a> </li> <li > <a href="/composition/HjlTr705BctcnaZkcjRJq/data-model" dir="auto">New data model </a> </li> <li > <a href="https://scientific-collections.gbif.org/" dir="auto">GRSciColl <span class="gb-icon-link"></span> </a> </li> <li > <a href="/suggest-dataset" dir="auto">Suggest a dataset </a> </li> <li > <a href="https://mdt.gbif-uat.org" dir="auto">Metabarcoding data toolkit <span class="gb-icon-link"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">Data access and use</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/hosted-portals" dir="auto">Hosted portals </a> </li> <li > <a href="/composition/3wT2HU1DKaJij0uKw8hj35/" dir="auto">Scientific collections </a> </li> <li > <a href="/data-processing" dir="auto">Data processing </a> </li> <li > <a href="/derived-dataset/about" dir="auto">Derived datasets </a> </li> <li > <a href="/tool/81747" dir="auto">rgbif </a> </li> <li > <a href="/tool/OlyoYyRbKCSCkMKIi4oIT/pygbif-gbif-python-client" dir="auto">pygbif </a> </li> <li > <a href="/tool/81279" dir="auto">MAXENT </a> </li> <li > <a href="/resource/search?contentType=tool" dir="auto">Tools catalogue </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">GBIF labs</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/tools/species-lookup" dir="auto">Species matching </a> </li> <li > <a href="/tools/name-parser" dir="auto">Name parser </a> </li> <li > <a href="/tools/sequence-id" dir="auto">Sequence ID </a> </li> <li > <a href="/tools/observation-trends" dir="auto">Relative observation trends </a> </li> <li > <a href="https://data-blog.gbif.org/" dir="auto">GBIF data blog <span class="gb-icon-link"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mainMenu--hasChild mainMenu__firstLevel mainMenu--hasGrandChild >" ng-class="{'mainMenu--childActive': nav.activeMenu == 'Community'}" > <a class=" mainMenu__parentItem" href="" ng-click="nav.toggleMenu('Community')" dir="auto">Community</a> <ul class="mainMenu__childGroup"> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">Network</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/the-gbif-network" dir="auto">Participant network </a> </li> <li > <a href="/composition/1aKAxGBtIAQwiEBzUjz9q6" dir="auto">Nodes </a> </li> <li > <a href="/publisher/search" dir="auto">Publishers </a> </li> <li > <a href="/contact-us/directory?group=nsg" dir="auto">Network contacts </a> </li> <li > <a href="https://discourse.gbif.org/" dir="auto">Community forum <span class="gb-icon-link"></span> </a> </li> <li > <a href="https://www.allianceforbio.org" dir="auto">alliance for biodiversity knowledge <span class="gb-icon-link"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">Volunteers</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/mentors" dir="auto">Mentors </a> </li> <li > <a href="/composition/6iHKXo8pUyRPJ2Ut0683Z8/" dir="auto">Ambassadors </a> </li> <li > <a href="/translators" dir="auto">Translators </a> </li> <li > <a href="/citizen-science" dir="auto">Citizen scientists </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">Activities</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/composition/5DQRFjEUUvcLx0Kk7Wgn6u" dir="auto">Capacity development </a> </li> <li > <a href="/composition/sogjffeR223qaLPROdpoF/" dir="auto">Programmes & projects </a> </li> <li > <a href="/training" dir="auto">Training and learning resources </a> </li> <li > <a href="/data-use-club" dir="auto">Data Use Club </a> </li> <li > <a href="http://living-atlases.gbif.org/" dir="auto">Living Atlases <span class="gb-icon-link"></span> </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mainMenu--hasChild mainMenu__firstLevel mainMenu--hasGrandChild >" ng-class="{'mainMenu--childActive': nav.activeMenu == 'About'}" > <a class=" mainMenu__parentItem" href="" ng-click="nav.toggleMenu('About')" dir="auto">About</a> <ul class="mainMenu__childGroup"> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">Inside GBIF</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/what-is-gbif" dir="auto">What is GBIF? </a> </li> <li > <a href="/become-member" dir="auto">Become a member </a> </li> <li > <a href="/governance" dir="auto">Governance </a> </li> <li > <a href="/strategic-plan" dir="auto">Strategic framework </a> </li> <li > <a href="https://docs.gbif.org/2025-work-programme/en/" dir="auto">Work Programme <span class="gb-icon-link"></span> </a> </li> <li > <a href="/funders" dir="auto">Funders </a> </li> <li > <a href="/partners" dir="auto">Partnerships </a> </li> <li > <a href="/release-notes" dir="auto">Release notes </a> </li> <li > <a href="/contact-us" dir="auto">Contacts </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> <li class="mainMenu__columns" > <nav><h2 dir="auto">News & outreach</h2> <ul class="mainMenu__childItem"> <li > <a href="/resource/search?contentType=news" dir="auto">News </a> </li> <li > <a href="/subscribe" dir="auto">Subscribe </a> </li> <li > <a href="/resource/search?contentType=event" dir="auto">Events </a> </li> <li > <a href="/awards" dir="auto">Awards </a> </li> <li > <a href="/science-review" dir="auto">Science Review </a> </li> <li > <a href="/data-use" dir="auto">Data use </a> </li> <li > <a href="/composition/2SEGqoMS8eMVos9T1owEEk" dir="auto">Thematic communities </a> </li> </ul> </nav> </li> </ul> </li> <li class="mainMenu__firstLevel hide-on-laptop"> <a class="mainMenu__parentItem" dir="auto" href="/user/profile"><span translate="profile.userProfile">User profile</span> <span ng-bind="nav.loginGreeting" class="mainMenu__greenText m-l-1"></span></a> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> <div id="site-wrapper" class="site-wrapper"> <div feedback data-nosnippet></div> <div notifications data-nosnippet></div> <div user-menu data-nosnippet></div> <div menu-search data-nosnippet></div> <div language-menu data-nosnippet></div> <main id="main" class="main" role="main" ui-view> <div class="site-content"> <div class="fab" fab> <div class="fab__trigger"> <a href="" class="action-flow btn btn-lg btn-highlight btn-circle" tooltip="Share"><i class="gb-icon-share"></i></a> </div> <ul class="fab__options"> <li> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gbif.org/%2Fwhat-is-gbif" onclick="window.open('https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gbif.org/%2Fwhat-is-gbif', 'newwindow', 'width=600, height=350'); return false;" class="action-flow btn btn-lg btn-highlight btn-circle" tooltip="facebook"> <i class="gb-icon-facebook"></i> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=What%20is%20GBIF%3F" onclick="window.open('https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=What%20is%20GBIF%3F', 'newwindow', 'width=600, height=350'); return false;" class="action-flow btn btn-lg btn-highlight btn-circle" tooltip="twitter"> <i class="gb-icon-twitter"></i> </a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.gbif.org/%2Fwhat-is-gbif" onclick="window.open('https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.gbif.org/%2Fwhat-is-gbif', 'newwindow', 'width=600, height=350'); return false;" class="action-flow btn btn-lg btn-highlight btn-circle" tooltip="linkedin"> <i class="gb-icon-linkedin"></i> </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="site-content__page"> <div> <div> <div class="wrapper-horizontal-stripes"> <div class="horizontal-stripe article-header white-background headerBlock" id="_what-is-gbif" > <div class="article-header"> <header class="text-center"> <h1 dir="auto">What is GBIF? </h1> <div class="article-header__intro m-b-2" dir="auto"> <p>GBIF鈥攖he Global Biodiversity Information Facility鈥攊s an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world's governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth.</p> </div> </header> </div> <div class="horizontal-stripe--paddingless white-background"> <figure class="heading-image"> <div class="cover-image"> <img ng-src="//api.gbif.org/v1/image/unsafe/1170x422/http:%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2Fuo17ejk9rkwj%2F1EeiBedMvkEW1rekNmDLQh%2F2b5234346a9c42395658ba59dd1f8f94%2Fgbif-bg.png" alt="gbif-bg" gallery-image> </div> <figcaption class="container--narrow" dir="auto"> </figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="horizontal-stripe white-background" id="_intro-what-is-gbif" > <div class="container--narrow"> <div class="body-text--markdown" dir="auto"> <p>GBIF鈥攖he Global Biodiversity Information Facility鈥攊s an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world's governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth.</p> <p>Coordinated through its Secretariat in Copenhagen, the <a href="/the-gbif-network">GBIF network of participating countries and organizations</a>, working through the <a href="/nodes">participant nodes</a>, provides data-holding institutions around the world with common standards, best practices and open-source tools enabling them to share information about where and when species have been recorded. This knowledge derives from many different kinds of sources, including everything from museum specimens collected in the 18th and 19th century to <a href="/dna">DNA barcodes</a> and smartphone photos recorded in recent days and weeks.</p> <p>The network draws these diverse data sources together through the use of <a href="/standards">data standards</a>, including <a href="/darwin-core">Darwin Core</a>, which forms the basis for the bulk of GBIF.org's index of hundreds of millions of <a href="/occurrence/search">species occurrence records</a>. Publishers provide open access to their datasets using machine-readable Creative Commons licence designations, allowing scientists, researchers and others to apply the data in nearly <a href="/resource/search?contentType=literature">five peer-reviewed publications </a> every day, along with other reports, analyses and policy documents.</p> <p>Each year, the <a href="/governance">GBIF Governing Board</a> reviews and approves an <a href="https://doi.org/10.35035/doc-cvcq-rs47">annual work programme</a> for <a href="#_about-the-secretariat">the Secretariat</a> that is bounded by a <a href="https://doi.org/10.35035/doc-0kkq-0t82">five-year strategic framework</a>.</p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="horizontal-stripe black-background" id="_video-what-is-gbif" > <div class="container--narrow"> <div class="body-text--markdown" dir="auto"> <div style="padding:56.25% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/661945151?h=a15da19daf&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></div> </div> </div> </div> <section class="horizontal-stripe light-background p-0" id="_lessbrgreater" > <div class="container--desktop"> <div class="block_carousel" dir="auto"> <h2 class="block__header"></h2> <div> <uib-carousel active="0" interval="0" no-wrap="false" no-transition="false" template-url="carouseltest.html" > <uib-slide template-url="carouselslide.html" index="0"> <article class="block_slide "> <div class="block_slide__content"> <div class="block_slide__imageArea"> <div class="block_slide__imageArea__container"> <img src="//api.gbif.org/v1/image/unsafe/http:%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2Fuo17ejk9rkwj%2F3gpnkeBI7rpz7LRthkNxTW%2F97307e96c39e264d8c96294838b02ef8%2Fvision-veb2.png"> <div class="block_slide__imageArea__caption" dir="auto"> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="block_slide__textContent" dir="auto"> <h3 class="h2 block_slide__textContent__title"> <div> Vision </div> </h3> <div class="block_slide__textContent__body body-text"> <p>A world in which the best possible biodiversity data underpins research, policy and decisions.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </uib-slide> <uib-slide template-url="carouselslide.html" index="1"> <article class="block_slide ng-cloak"> <div class="block_slide__content"> <div class="block_slide__imageArea"> <div class="block_slide__imageArea__container"> <img src="//api.gbif.org/v1/image/unsafe/http:%2F%2Fimages.ctfassets.net%2Fuo17ejk9rkwj%2FTAMGadMCMITHriULViYqR%2F51f664167a15fcd2ced842e3a11f1d11%2Fmission-web-bg2.png"> <div class="block_slide__imageArea__caption" dir="auto"> </div> </div> </div> <div> <div class="block_slide__textContent" dir="auto"> <h3 class="h2 block_slide__textContent__title"> <div> Mission </div> </h3> <div class="block_slide__textContent__body body-text"> <p>To mobilize the data, skills and technologies needed to make comprehensive biodiversity information freely available for science and decisions addressing biodiversity loss and sustainable development.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </uib-slide> </uib-carousel> </div> </div> </div> </section> <script type="text/ng-template" id="carouselslide.html"> <div ng-class="{ 'active': active }" class="item" ng-transclude></div> </script> <script type="text/ng-template" id="carouseltest.html"> <div> <div class="carousel" ng-swipe-right="prev()" ng-swipe-left="next()"> <a role="button" href ng-click="prev()" ng-class="{ disabled: isPrevDisabled() }" ng-show="slides.length > 1"> <span aria-hidden="true" class="gb-icon-angle-left carousel__arrow" ></span> <span class="sr-only">previous</span> </a> <div class="carousel-inner" ng-transclude></div> <a role="button" href ng-click="next()" ng-class="{ disabled: isNextDisabled() }" ng-show="slides.length > 1"> <span aria-hidden="true" class="gb-icon-angle-right carousel__arrow"></span> <span class="sr-only">next</span> </a> </div> <ol class="carousel__dots" ng-show="slides.length > 1"> <li ng-repeat="slide in slides | orderBy:indexOfSlide track by $index" ng-class="{ active: isActive(slide) }" ng-click="select(slide)"> <span class="sr-only">slide {{ $index + 1 }} of {{ slides.length }}<span ng-if="isActive(slide)">, currently active</span></span> </li> </ol> </div> </script> <section class="featured_text_block__background horizontal-stripe gray-background" id="_background-and-history" > <div class="container--desktop"> <div class="featured_text_block "> <h2 class="block__header" dir="auto">Background and history </h2> <div class="container--narrow"> <div class="featured_text_block__content"> <div class="featured_text_block__textArea" dir="auto"> <div class="featured_text_block__textContent"> <div class="block_slide__textContent__body body-text"> <p>GBIF arose from a <a href="https://web-archive.oecd.org/2012-06-15/164761-2105199.pdf">1999 recommendation by the Biodiversity Informatics Subgroup</a> of the <a href="http://www.oecd.org">Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Megascience Forum</a>. This report concluded that "An international mechanism is needed to make biodiversity data and information accessible worldwide", arguing that this mechanism could produce many economic and social benefits and enable sustainable development by providing sound scientific evidence.</p> <p>The OECD panel specifically recommended the establishment of "a Global Biodiversity Information Facility" to</p> <blockquote> <p>"enable users to navigate and put to use vast quantities of biodiversity information, advancing scientific research ... serving the economic and quality-of-life interests of society, and providing a basis from which our knowledge of the natural world can grow rapidly and in a manner that avoids duplication of effort and expenditure."</p> </blockquote> <p>That recommendation received the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/21728">endorsement of science ministers from OECD member states</a>, and, in 2001, GBIF was officially established through <a href="/document/80661">Memorandum of Understanding</a> between participating governments.</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="featured_text_block__background horizontal-stripe white-background" id="_about-the-secretariat" > <div class="container--desktop"> <div class="featured_text_block "> <h2 class="block__header" dir="auto">About the secretariat </h2> <div class="container--narrow"> <div class="featured_text_block__content"> <div class="featured_text_block__textArea" dir="auto"> <div class="featured_text_block__textContent"> <div class="block_slide__textContent__body body-text"> <p><a href="/contact-us">The GBIF Secretariat</a> is currently organized into four teams:</p> <ul> <li><strong>Participation and Engagement</strong> is responsible for operating the network of Participants and publishers, recruiting new members and enhancing the capacity of current ones.</li> <li><strong>Data Products</strong> is responsible for the quality and scientific value of the integrated data products produced by the GBIF network.</li> <li><strong>Informatics</strong> is responsible for data management, software development and the overall operation of the GBIF infrastructure.</li> <li><strong>Administration</strong> is responsible for maintaining both the network and the Secretariat's underlying operations and processes.</li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> <footer class="site-footer wrapper-horizontal-stripes" data-nosnippet> <div class="horizontal-stripe light-background site-footer__upper"> <div class="container--normal"> <nav class="site-footer__menu"> <div> <a href="/what-is-gbif">What is GBIF?</a> <a href="/developer/summary">API</a> <a href="/faq">FAQ</a> <a href="/newsletters">Newsletter</a> <a href="/terms/privacy-policy">Privacy</a> <a href="/terms">Terms and agreements</a> <a href="/citation-guidelines">Citation</a> <a href="/code-of-conduct">Code of Conduct</a> <a href="/acknowledgements">Acknowledgements</a> </div> <div> <a href="/contact-us">Contact</a> <span> <span href=""><span>GBIF Secretariat </span>Universitetsparken 15</span> <span href="">DK-2100 Copenhagen 脴</span> <span href="">Denmark</span> </span> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="horizontal-stripe site-footer__gbc p-t-1 p-b-1" style="background: #5b5b5b;"> <div class="container--normal"> <nav class="site-footer__menu"> <div style="margin: 0;"> <a href="/news/6PHdgoyIF6RmI7u4VOouuD"> <img src="/img/gbc.svg" style="max-height: 40px; padding: 0 24px;" /> <span style="font-weight: 500;">GBIF</span> <span> is a Global Core Biodata Resource</span> </a> </div> </nav> </div> </div> <div class="horizontal-stripe site-footer__lower"> <div class="container--normal text-center"> <div class="site-footer__social"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/gbifnews" class="btn btn-lg btn-circle"><i class="gb-icon-facebook"></i></a> <a href="https://biodiversity.social/@gbif" rel="me" class="btn btn-lg btn-circle"><i class="gb-icon-mastodon"></i></a> <a href="https://twitter.com/GBIF" class="btn btn-lg btn-circle"><i class="gb-icon-twitter"></i></a> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/gbif" class="btn btn-lg btn-circle"><i class="gb-icon-linkedin"></i></a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/GBIFvideo" class="btn btn-lg btn-circle"><i class="gb-icon-youtube"></i></a> <a href="https://vimeo.com/gbif" class="btn btn-lg btn-circle"><i class="gb-icon-vimeo"></i></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gbifs/" class="btn btn-lg btn-circle"><i class="gb-icon-instagram"></i></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="horizontal-stripe site-footer__bottom"> <div class="container--normal text-center"> <img src="/img/full_logo_white.svg"> </div> </div> </footer> <div gdpr data-nosnippet></div> </div> <div gb-help-overlay data-nosnippet></div> <script type="text/ng-template" id="dropdown.html"> <a href="" dir="auto"> <span ng-bind-html="match.label | uibTypeaheadHighlight:query"></span> </a> </script> <script> window.gb = window.gb || {}; window.gb.locale = 'en'; window.gb.urlPrefix = ''; window.gb.buildVersion = '1743678224550'; </script> <script src="/js/environment.js?v=1743678224550"></script> <script src="/js/base/vendor.js?v=1743678224550"></script> <script src="/js/base/custom.js?v=1743678224550"></script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM