GBIF Work Programme 2024 Annual Update and Implementation Plan to the Strategic Framework 2023–2027

Knowledge gaps are reduced by consolidating data coverage across the thematic areas of relevance

GBIF’s relevance to research is enhanced, through increased recognition and uptake of GBIF mediated data among researchers across additional scientific disciplines

Commission an update to the systematic review of GBIF use in research (Heberling et al. 2021) to identify trends in research uses for the 2020-2024 periods, deepen the analysis of methods and analytical approaches, and inform future support for priority thematic areas of relevance

Advance collaborative activities across priority thematic areas of relevance based on recommendations from the Science Committee, including establishing a task group on invasive alien species and engaging experts in agrobiodiversity

Strengthen and expand support and guidance on mobilizing DNA-derived data from a range of data holder types and scales, supported by data quality improvements, improved coverage of DNA-detected organisms in the GBIF taxonomic backbone, and alignment of guidance with the new GBIF data model

Expand data flows relating to vectors of human disease, in particular malaria-related data through GBIF partnership in the Vector Atlas project, with additional data streams on non-malaria vectors as recommended by the GBIF task group on vectors of human diseases

GBIF supports the evolution of fundamental data-driven biodiversity research and its application across methods, scales and disciplines in life and environmental sciences

Consolidate prototype digital twins dependent on and coordinated by GBIF through partnership on BioDT, support user-group testing of prototype twins and links to key biodiversity data infrastructures, and build connections between projects and initiatives through shared data and service dependencies (such as B-Cubed)

Improve GBIF’s capabilities to manage ecological data streams from key infrastructures and monitoring programmes, applying new data model to accommodate richer data (including absences based on complete species inventories) while designing data flows and outputs in planned workshop on the TDWG Humboldt Extension (see also activities 4.3 and 4.4)

GBIF-mediated data is consistently and transparently applied and cited across multiple indicators used to monitor progress towards the goals and targets agreed through the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)

GBIF is recognized as a key implementation partner for biodiversity-related projects supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

GBIF-mediated data is fully integrated into national Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) platforms as well as national reporting processes for the CBD

Work with partners to ensure that GBIF contributes efficiently and transparently to the finalized monitoring framework of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), particularly headline indicators on invasive alien species (Target 6), business disclosures (Target 15) and availability of data, information and knowledge (Target 21), and including expanded regional mechanisms to support funding and capacity pipelines

Analyse GBIF’s relevance across all goals, targets and mechanisms of the GBF and incorporate the results within communication and nodes guidance materials (see also activities 3.1 and 3.2)

Explore the potential of 'data cube' delivery formats from GBIF to support further development of biodiversity indicators at national, regional and global levels

Implement the partnership agreement with Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), including joint promotion at CBD meetings, development of guidance for alignment of nodes and Biodiversity Observation Networks, and application of the new data model to support standardized observations

Formalize GBIF’s position as a service provider for implementing agencies of the Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Improve GBIF connections and explore partnerships with other biodiversity-related conventions, such as the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Fauna (CITES) and Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, including through better coordination between GBIF nodes and national focal points

GBIF’s value in supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is recognized and reinforced through strategic partnerships with relevant international organizations focused on climate change, food security, human health and well-being, and both terrestrial and marine biodiversity

Relevance to multiple SDGs contributes to a broader funding base for GBIF both through project-based support and national contributions

National contributions and project-based support provide a broader funding base that increases GBIF’s relevance to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and SDGs

Establish formal partnerships with key agencies to support GBIF’s relevance to the SDGs, in particular with regard to human health, food security (building on a Letter of Intent signed with the Plant Treaty in 2023), and climate change

Organize a joint meeting with the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) to advance work on a marine biodiversity data strategy based on 2023 discussions, and recognizing GBIF’s position as a partner in the Marine Life 2030 programme within the UN Decade on Ocean Science for Sustainable Development

Scope and commission an initial Environment and Social Governance (ESG) report relating to GBIF’s operational policies, including but not restricted to carbon and environmental footprints and gender, diversity and inclusion guidelines

GBIF’s role in providing data infrastructure essential to the work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) is fully recognized and communicated

GBIF’s use in policy and decision processes is enhanced through partnerships and better communicated

Develop implementation plan for renewed partnership with IPBES, including involvement in task forces, data support for assessments, and mobilization of priority data in response to knowledge gaps

Engage in the IPBES fast-track methodological assessment on monitoring biodiversity and ecosystem services, approved at the IPBES 10 plenary meeting in 2023

Refine capture of additional citations of the use of GBIF-mediated data in policy implementation and communicate key illustrative examples

Formalize partnerships with relevant organizations supporting the science-policy interface

Lending agreements prepared by financial institutions and public development banks include clear and unequivocal requirements for sharing biodiversity data

Private companies, trade associations and consultancies in all global regions recognize GBIF as the preferred platform to share primary biodiversity data gathered through impact assessments and monitoring

Support implementation of the Data4Nature initiative by developing targeted outreach, communication and training resources to engage multilateral development banks (MDBs) and development funding agencies and increase flows of business-sector data from environmental impact assessments, monitoring programmes and funded projects

Organize forum for MDBs and other potential Data4Nature partners to detail progress and encourage further participation at UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 16) or other relevant venue

Continue engagement with the Task Force on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), in particular with regard to the recommendation of a global nature-related public data facility to support corporate reporting for the Global Biodiversity Framework

The Secretariat, nodes and Heads of Delegation are equipped with robust materials to demonstrate GBIF’s value for money

Additional countries join or return to GBIF as Voting Participants

Additional funding agencies or foundations commit supplementary funds to support GBIF activities as part of the resource mobilization strategy

Update the GBIF Communications Strategy, revising and revisiting key audiences and messages to account for changes and developments since its publication in 2015

Refresh messaging and materials across GBIF communication platforms to reflect and update key components of GBIF’s value to the network’s Participants, publishers, partners and stakeholders, including:

Prepare a second series of animated videos on additional areas of GBIF relevance aligned with priority thematic campaigns

Produce an annual report summarizing progress toward implementing the new strategic framework in 2023

Capture and communicate the value of work carried out by GBIF volunteers (mentors, trainers, translators, ambassadors and other voluntary roles) and report to national nodes and delegations on the value of uncharged work from volunteers in their countries

Develop branding, launch and promote use of the ‘derived dataset’ tool to support and encourage more accurate citations and provide data publishers with more precise reporting on uses of their data in research and policy

GBIF nodes provide a strong and stable foundation for data mobilization and use through the network

The role of GBIF nodes as hubs for data mobilization and use is better understood and supported, especially at national level

Refine the Node Awards programme based on lessons learned from its first year of operation

Update guidance and support materials for nodes, including:

Following successful piloting in 2023, establish the Technical Support Hour for Nodes as a permanent forum for community exchange and interaction, peer-to-peer training and problem-solving

Develop materials on the new data model for nodes to reuse and repurpose in engaging data holders

In consultation with nodes, explore opportunities to enable secondments and work exchange within the GBIF network

Develop a process for replicating the survey of national nodes to capture information on the value of national investment in the GBIF network

GBIF national participation is expanded across currently under-represented regions, G20 economies and megadiverse nations

Current Associate Participants have agreed pathways towards achieving or returning to voting participation

Consolidate the nodes onboarding programme and scope possible onboarding actions for Heads of Delegation

Maintain and consolidate the regional support teams to complement and supplement the work of national nodes, and scope development of regional-level node support through associate partners

Organize an in-person engagement event with the regional support team to strengthen participation in underrepresented parts of the Europe and Central Asia region (e.g. Central Asia, Caucasus, Balkans, Baltics)

GBIF’s ongoing capacity support programmes are successfully concluded, and new support programmes are scoped

Additional training and guidance resouces are available to the community in multiple languages covering both data mobilization and data use

Launch a continuation of the BID programme once contract is secured with the European Commission Directorate-General for International Partnerships, explore additional funding sources, and organize regional meetings in target regions (co-located with regional nodes meetings, where possible)

Reevaluate the impact of the GBIF Capacity Enhancement Support Programme (CESP) and develop recommendations for improvements

Update materials within GBIF training courses aligned with the new data model, adding new materials and use cases as appropriate

GBIF-maintained software and informatics infrastructure provides high, ongoing levels of availability and performance that keep pace with growth in data publication and use

Retire the internal GBIF checklist database and replace it with ChecklistBank, and deploy corresponding updates to public GBIF APIs

Maintain deployments of hosted portals and hosted data repositories (IPTs)

Maintain GBIF R (rgbif) and Python (pygbif) libraries to follow changes in GBIF public interfaces and support outcomes, including eDNA engagement activities

Mature deployment and operation of software on the Kubernetes technology platform

Review and test disaster recovery processes

Plan capacity and hardware procurement to accommodate growth in volume and use of data

Provide environments for development and network-wide testing, particularly related to indexing under revised data standards

The expanding GBIF community of users are fully supported by a responsive help desk team and improved technical documentation

The taxonomic and collections communities benefit from improvements in GBIF support to the Global Registry of Scientific Collections (GRSciColl) and the Catalogue of Life

Establish a ticketing system to manage, prioritize and monitor help desk support

Replace the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy with the extended release of the Catalogue of Life Checklist, produced using ChecklistBank

Support content curation on GRSciColl and coordinate editor and user communities as well as data import and synchronisation processes

Upgrade documentation by

Improved user interface to GBIF.org

Improved capabilities for GBIF to handle ecological, collections, and phylogenetic data

Data reuse increased through more stable GBIF identifiers

Align interfaces, functionality and software used in GBIF.org, hosted portals, the shared data pipeline project and the Living Atlases

Improve ability for users to filter based on categories of dataset origins, including citizen science, eDNA and the business sector

Advance capabilities for event-based search, based on prototype co-developed with the Atlas of Living Australia, and explore support for the forthcoming Humboldt extension on species inventories (see also activities 1.2 and 4.4)

Implement a material catalogue to capture specimen information exposed in the new data model

Enrich GRSciColl through integration of collection description information, compatible with the Latimer Core schema, to support use cases, including priority-setting for data mobilization and digitization

Develop new data download formats that offer configurable summaries of occurrence data

Improve data quality by:

Explore alternative platforms and methods for integrating and managing information from literature tracking

The revised GBIF data model is matured and applicable for use

All controlled terms used in GBIF processing are managed in the vocabulary server

Mature the unified data model aiming to become a candidate standard within Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG)

Refine and test data publishing models for specimen data with community members

Develop publishing models for monitoring data (abundance and absence) and structured events around targets to improve support of inventory data using the Humboldt extension (see also activities 1.2 and 4.3)

Advance data models for interaction data

Encourage growth of the community of vocabulary editors to accelerate the collection of community-curated vocabularies

Complete the migration of content and associated code to use the vocabulary-server for all controlled terms