1. Environmental Information Infrastructure John R. Busby ERIN, Environment Australia

2. Drivers - Global TREATIES (but also MANY other programs …) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn) Wetlands Convention (Ramsar) World Heritage Convention

3. Responses - Global INFORMATION INITIATIVES Diversitas (IBOY) G3OS (GCOS, GOOS, GTOS) International Long-Term Ecological Research (ILTER) network Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) Global Resource Information Database (UNEP/GRID) Biodiversity Conservation Information System (BCIS) UNEP/IUCN Environmental Law Information Service (ECOLEX)

4. Responses - Regional INFORMATION INITIATIVES European Environment Information and Observation NETwork (EIONET) Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN) North American Biodiversity Information Network (NABIN)

5. Characteristics Many players in multiple jurisdictions across all spatial scales (levels of govt, private sector, NGOs, …) Attribute sets and attribute classifications highly scale-dependent Data collection methods and instruments many and varied Missing, incomplete & inaccurate datasets Absence of or non-compliance with standards

6. Environmental Information for Decision Support in Australia Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 Oceans Policy National Land and Water Resources Audit Regional Forest Agreements Coastal Atlas National Pollutant Inventory Threatened species databases

7. National Pollutant Inventory Plot point and diffuse sources of emissions Chart the sources Produce a report

8. Species of national environmental significance Before : Point based data from museums and herbaria Now : Includes expert opinion and validation

9. Species mapping and modelling : on-the-fly Locations of Eucalyptus radiata 3508 records from 11 custodians PLUS predicted distributions using climate and other factors

10. Analysing Data - Hot Spots Prawn Trawler Tracks Macquarie Harbour Diffusion Plume Northern Australia Fire Mapping

11. Environmental Monitoring from Space Satellite imagery used to provide long term monitoring of the environment Up until present. Built from 14- day, 1km, cloud- minimised composites [coarser data back to July ‘81]

12. Community Access to Information

14. Turning Data into Information Information policy framework Priority data sets (fundamental attributes, …) Data management (standards, security, …) Building science-based applications (tools) Analysis - converting data into information Presenting information - maps, reports, Internet Communication - enhancing the knowledge base, skills transfer, capacity building

15. Information Policy Framework Governance (incl. management support) Assessment of user needs (needs driven) Data and information management processes Quality assurance/control Metadata Custodianship/stewardship Data access (pricing) and network topologies Information product design

16. Information Infrastructure datasets and information technology networks metadata data flow standards policies protocols

17. Knowledge Management data information If only we knew what we know! politics economics ethics information products experience culture

18. Information and the Business Cycle

19. Architecture Programs & Policies Products Analysis Tools Priority Data Directories Systems

20. Challenges Transition from supply driven to demand driven Engagement and commitment of decision makers Building the partnerships and networks Management of custodianship Implementation of protocols and standards HOWEVER Neither data nor technology is a major impediment

21. The Future Strategic information management Forming partnerships for policy and program delivery Increased involvement in data analysis for environmental priorities - current and long term Elevating the use and understanding of environmental information to a level comparable to economic information better environmental outcomes !!