Final report of the working group on biological informatics

An international mechanism is needed to make biodiversity data and information accessible worldwide. Attempts to integrate parts of the biological and ecological data matrix are occurring in a handful of projects (e.g., INBio in Costa Rica, Diversitas [an ICSU-UNESCO program for biodiversity research], and Species 2000), but these efforts need to be augmented and coordinated. The existence of such a mechanism will produce many economic and social benefits. For example, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) obligates nations to implement provisions relating to conservation, use and equitable sharing of biodiversity. A scientific information resource that could facilitate fulfillment of these obligations is greatly needed. Such a resource will also contribute to biotechnology and bioengineering, and therefore will be a central element in sustainable development. Because biodiversity is one of the primary measures of environmental impact, sound scientific information about it provides a way of determining whether development in a particular region is actually sustainable. The Subgroup on Biodiversity Informatics recommends that the governments of OECD Member countries establish and support a distributed system of interlinked and interoperable modules (databases, software and networking tools, search engines, analytical algorithms, etc.) that together will form a Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). This facility will enable users to navigate and put to use vast quantities of biodiversity information, thereby advancing scientific research in areas such as agriculture, biomedicine, biotechnology, environmental management, pest control, health, education, and conservation, among others; serving the economic and quality-of-life interests of society; and providing a basis from which knowledge of the natural world can grow rapidly, in a manner that avoids duplication of effort and expenditure. This Facility will be distributed, while encouraging co-operation and coherence; global in scale, though implemented nationally and regionally; and open to participation and benefit by all countries, while having the majority of its support provided by those countries that have the greatest financial, scientific, and technical capacities to do so. The Subgroup also recommends that governments accelerate efforts to compile data about living organisms and ecosystems, especially those whose existence is threatened and those of potential economic importance, and to enter these data (as well as existing biodiversity and ecosystems data) into databases that are interlinked via the GBIF. This Report reaches beyond the obvious need to conserve biodiversity to include other major policy objectives of the OECD and particularly its Committee for Scientific and Technological Policy. These are: 1) the advancement of science—Biological informatics is fundamental to the future development of all life sciences. Depending upon country and definition, probably half of all scientific research is devoted to the life sciences and associated fields, such as health, agriculture and food, ecology and environment. The GBIF, in part by linking to existing molecular and genetic databases, will give a gradually increasing and ultimately very substantial boost to all research endeavors directly or indirectly related to living things. 2) greater efficiency and economies in R&D spending— Joint implementation of GBIF will be less costly than multiple efforts undertaken independently by individual governments. 3) technological applications and economic opportunities—GBIF will facilitate application of life science data in industry, agriculture, conservation and health. The exploration of science and technology for economic benefit is a goal shared by all countries. GBIF will be a resource that will stimulate development of new commercial products and informatics tools and aid in preserving biodiversity. Databases that are essential to achieving ecological and economic compatibility, responsible resource management, and sustainable development will be interlinked and made accessible by GBIF. The Subgroup recommends that OECD member countries: · Establish a Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). · Support the GBIF Secretariat and GBIF programs financially, and appoint a representative to the GBIF Governing Board. · Invest in related national and international activities that further the goals of the GBIF