Bangkok, 22-24 November 2022—The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) held an Asia regional engagement meeting and symposium at Chularlongkorn University, Thailand, to promote the publishing and use of open biodiversity data and to explore opportunities to strengthen the GBIF community in Asia.

Approximately 90 participants representing GBIF country nodes, biodiversity data publishers, as well as international organisations and networks join the event either in person or online. 

The symposium featured talks and panel discussions that demonstrate the regional and local relevance of GBIF and other global open biodiversity infrastructure, showcase success stories of using open biodiversity data to support decisions on conservation, human health, food security, climate change and other aspects of sustainable development.

These include activities funded under GBIF’s Biodiversity Information Fund for Asia (BIFA) programme to digitise specimens and observation records, to build capacity for such activities, and to conduct research that support decison-making, for example on invasive species control, spatial planning, and vector control response. 

APN was represented at a roundtable discussion that focused on identifying opportunities to raise awareness of the relevance of open biodiversity data in Asia, strengthen cooperation between regional initiatives, and integrate open biodiversity data practices across regional initiatives and funding streams.