Gather presentation by NLBIF
GBIF—the Global Biodiversity Information Facility— is an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world's governments and aimed at providing anyone, anywhere, open access to data about all types of life on Earth. Our team of six at NLBIF form the Dutch Node of GBIF based in Naturalis Biodiversity Center. Out mission is to assist biodiversity data owners from the Netherlands in digitizing, standardizing and mobilizing data so it can be shared through GBIF by FAIR data principles.
The Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an international open-data network that enables free access to biodiversity data from around the world. By providing standardized and interoperable biodiversity information, GBIF supports scientific research, conservation, environmental management, and evidence-based policy making. Central to this international infrastructure is the use of Darwin Core standards, which allow biodiversity datasets from different institutions and countries to be shared via the FAIR principles.
This presentation will introduce GBIF, explain the importance of open biodiversity data, and provide an overview of the different types of datasets that can be published through the platform. These include metadata-only datasets, species occurrence data, sampling-event datasets, Camera Trap Data Packages (CameraTrapDP), metabarcoding datasets, and Darwin Core Data Packages (DwC-DP). The session will also discuss how standardized biodiversity data can increase the visibility, accessibility, and long-term value of research conducted in the Caribbean region.
The presentation will further introduce the Netherlands Biodiversity Information Facility (NLBIF), currently hosted by Naturalis Biodiversity Center, which coordinates the Dutch contribution to GBIF. For many years, the NLBIF team has supported researchers and institutions in mobilizing biodiversity data from the Dutch kingdom to GBIF. Through annual funding provided by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OCW), organizations can apply for the NLBIF Call grant to support biodiversity data mobilization projects. In 2026, for example, Nature Foundation Sint Maarten received nearly €30,000 through this program.
A key goal of this talk is to increase awareness among Caribbean institutes and researchers that they are eligible for this funding and can rely on NLBIF support for data digitalization, standardization, and publication to GBIF. The session aims to encourage greater participation from Caribbean organizations in the GBIF and to strengthen regional biodiversity data accessibility and collaboration.