GISIN Invasive Species Profile Schema Experts Meeting

The Global Invasive Species Information Network requires building an information network for sharing and exchange of invasive species data, information, knowledge, and related metadata.

A draft XML schema for exchange and sharing of information on invasive alien species has been developed and is undergoing review, see http://wiki.cs.umb.edu/twiki/bin/view/IASPS/.

In order to prepare a technically sound information document for consideration at the Eigth Ordinary Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD to be held 20-31 March, 2006 in Curitiba, Brazil, a four-night, three-day GISIN experts meeting will be held in the week of February 20-24 2006, in Agadir, Morocco.

The participants include members of the Taxonomic Databases Working Group, owners of international invasive species databases, and members of the Global Invasive Species Information Network and its Steering Committee.

GBIF is taking the steps to include invasive species checklists and observations among its data sources. GBIF will be represented in this meeting by Hannu Saarenmaa, who also is a member of the GISIN intering Steering Committee.