1. SANBI’s role in promoting Biodiversity Information Standards in South Africa Sediqa Khatieb TDWG 2011 s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

2. Introduction to SANBI South African National Biodiversity Institute – formerly National Botanical Institute Formed in 2004 – through National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act 2004 (No. 10 of 2004). monitor and report on the state of the country’s biodiversity; generate, collate and disseminate biodiversity related information and maintain related databases; Establishment of Biodiversity Information Management (BIM) directorate s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

3. Mission: manage & disseminate biodiversity data, support research, policy advice, monitoring & decision-making Aided by legislation Promotion of Access to Information Act, 2000 SANBI’s Biodiversity Information Policy Framework Biodiversity Information Management s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

4. iSpot - Add an observation to the website and suggest an identification yourself or see if anyone else can identify it for you Biodiversity Advisor - Provides a single point of entry for any biodiversity question. Biodiversity Information Management s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

5. Mandated by NEMBA Convention on Biological Diversity Design, calculate & distribute stats on SA’s biodiversity DATA AQUISITION PROBLEMS! No time series data Unrealistic expectations Changes in methodology Spatial Data Infrastructure Act (No 54 0f 2004) Biodiversity Monitoring s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

6. SANBI indicators found here: http://enviroindicator.deat.gov.za/ Biodiversity Indicators Capacity Strengthening (BICS) in Africa Biodiversity Monitoring s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

7. National node of GBIF, funded by Dept of Science and Technology Promotes mobilisation of data – strengthening partnerships Provides annual funding for digitization of species occurrence National Biodiversity Framework – “SANBI dramatically improve access to online biodiversity through SIBIS & SABIF” http://www.sabif.ac.za/ http://www.sabif.ac.za/ South African Biodiversity Information Facility (SABIF) s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

8. DATA ACQUISITION PROBLEMS Solutions SANBI’s Biodiversity Information Policy Framework – digital access to sensitive access, 2010 Metadata Copyright, data ownership, intellectual property rights Promote standards (Darwin Core, Taxon Schema) Interventions – mid-term reviews, training, roles and expectations, signed contracts Non-funding – data agreements South African Biodiversity Information Facility (SABIF) s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

9. Training Digitizing and Data Cleaning – June 2008 & 2009 Data Standards & Protocols – June 2008 & 2009 Ecological Niche Modelling – March 2009 BRAHMS - September 2010 SPECIFY - September 2010 Georeferencing workshop - April 2011 South African Biodiversity Information Facility (SABIF) s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

10. Website disseminates spatial data Formulating an institutional GIS strategy Spatial Data Infrastructure Act – all organs of state are responsible for reliability of spatial data. Metadata – describes digital data Projections GPS Editing & creating data Biodiversity GIS (http://bgis.sanbi.org) s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

11. Training – 4 sessions a year – looks at metadata & projections Biodiversity Information Management Forum 2009 GIS editing Metadata Projections Biodiversity GIS (http://bgis.sanbi.org) s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

12. Database management system for herbaria – assemble, manage, edit, analyse & publish data Preferred national plant information system to support the capture & management of fundamental taxonomic, specimen & floristic information. Taxonomic nomenclature – standards p.winter@sanbi.org.za BRAHMS s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

13. Biggest challenges facing BIM Incompatible standards Lack of necessary infrastructure Strategic direction - comprehensive biodiversity information architecture – define standards Training required November 2011 – SANBI to host Information Architecture workshop - consolidating initiatives Biodiversity Information Management – The Future s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za

14. Thanks! s.khatieb@sanbi.org.za