Ensuring buy-in from a wide range of data-holding institutions is critical in mobilizing relevant data. Institutions may be unwilling or unable to share data for a number of reasons. Engaging such data holders demands a clear articulation of the benefits of sharing data as well as the availability of tools for facilitating data mobilization that help guide these new data publishers' efforts.
Stinking passionflower (Passiflora foetida), Tonga, from iNaturalist Research-grade Observations. Photo by John Barkla licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0
Regional and national alien and invasive species data and information mobilization and capacity building in the pacific
Pacific island countries and territories
Alien and invasive species (A&IS) arguably represent the greatest threat to biodiversity in Pacific island countries and territories. Limited capacity and resources for managing A&IS data become even more constrained in a fragmented network of small islands, making it imperative for the region's diverse data-holding organizations to collaborate.
A series of national workshops and targeted missions identified holders of invasive-relevant datasets. Using a template for data digitization from the IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group and a bilingual publication on regional data mobilization, the project recruited 22 agencies to publish their first GBIF datasets—49 in total—containing 20,585 species occurrence records. This A&IS data served as a primary resource for the review of Pacific island states’ National Invasive Species Strategy and Action Plans (NISSAPs) and National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAP) and helped guide decisions on priority islands for Tonga's rat eradication programmes.
