In the GBIF third year review, GBIF is called upon to partner with other global initiatives. This interaction with GEOSS is in direct response to the review report.

Click here for background on the GEOSS process.

There are many and diverse work packets involved in GEOSS, each led by an assigned organisation. GBIF is in charge of work packets 77 and 80, with DIVERSITAS listed as a cooperating organisation. DIVERSITAS is leading work packet 78, and GBIF is cooperating with them on it. Each work packet document requires that specific tasks be outlined in order to reach the target. Tasks for 2005 have already been outlined, but additional tasks for 2006 and 2007 still need to be submitted.

The GBIF Secretariat is soliciting advice from the community about these tasks. Please take a look at the work packet documents (links below) and send your suggestions to us by 15 June 2005.

The target outlined for work packet 77 is "Facilitate the interoperability of the multi-institutional biodiversity observation network through GBIF and ensure that it links to data sets of ecological and other related observation systems." The document can be accessed by clicking here.

Work packet 80 has as its target "Advocate additional support to permit data system integration sharing by data providers, particularly the research and collections institutions". You can see the tasks for 2005, and the space for 2006 and 2007 tasks, in the document by clicking here.

Further, the work packet 78 document can be viewed by clicking here. The target for this work packet, led by DIVERSITAS, is "Develop a biodiversity observation strategy that is spatially and topically prioritized, based on analysis of existing information, identifying unique or highly diverse ecosystems and those supporting migratory, endemic or globally threatened species, those whose biodiversity is of socio-economic importance, and which can support the 2010 CBD target."