The 7th GBIF Asia Nodes meeting was organised in Tagaytay, Philippines 28 – 30 June, 2016 to review progress, elect a regional representative and deputy, and discuss the future course of action based on the strategy developed during the 6th GBIF Asia Nodes in 2015. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — an intergovernmental global organisation with a mandate to facilitate open access biodiversity — and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) signed a memorandum of understanding in 2009 making ICIMOD a contributing associate member. Nakul Chettri, the Node Manager for ICIMOD, participated in the meeting. The meeting was attended by Japan, Taiwan, Vietnam, India, ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity, ICIMOD,  Biodiversity Management Bureau, Philippines and the representative from GBIF Headquarter in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The meeting concluded with the existing regional representative (Japan) and the deputy (Taiwan) being renewed. Regional strategies focusing on regional networking, data mobilisation, capacity building of the potential new members were revisited. Also discussed was the use of available Biodiversity Information Fund for Asia (BIFA) supported by Japan with provision to have four to eight proposals focusing on capacity building, networking, and infrastructure development and filling data gaps. The meeting also proposed extending the 8th GBIF Asia Nodes meeting in Vietnam in 2017 considering additional countries from Asia to be brought on the GBIF network bringing synergy among other global actions such asIntergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), International Long Term Ecological Research (ILTER) etc.

ICIMOD as a regional knowledge and enabling centre committed to support the strategy based on its mandate and to facilitate involvement of ICIMOD member countries in the 2017 meeting.

Share