Global Biodiversity Information Facility in CopenhagenBonn 17 June 2001 Copenhagen has been selected as the site for the secretariat of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). According to Christoph Haeuser, a leading biodiversity researcher at the State Museum in Stuttgart and the Chair of the GBIF Governing Board, "This decision puts GBIF on a firm footing. It now will have a home base from which to fulfill its goal of linking together the world’s biodiversity databases."
The second meeting of GBIF’s Governing Board, held in Bonn from 15-17 June, considered competitive bids from Australia, Denmark, Netherlands and Spain for hosting the GBIF secretariat. Henrik Balslev, head of the national delegation that proposed the winning bid, stated that "Denmark is proud and honoured to host the GBIF secretariat. In Denmark the secretariat will function in a stimulating biodiverity research environment. We will strive to make the GBIF secretariat a truly international organization that promotes excellence in biodiversity informatics research through synergy between technologically advanced and biodiversity-rich regions of the world." GBIF is an open-ended international coordinating body devoted to gathering and computerizing biodiversity information from around the world and making those data freely available on the Internet. It was established in March 2001 and currently consists of 18 Voting and 14 Associate Participants. A full listing of the GBIF membership can be found at the GBIF Web site (http://www.gbif.org). The GBIF Governing Board is soliciting applications for the position of Executive Secretary to be selected at the next Governing Board meeting to be held in Paris, France from 11-15 September 2001. Information on the procedure of application will be available on the GBIF Web site.
Ad Emmen |
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