This is a culmination of efforts by many organisations, including GBIF, who have devoted time to developing both a concept document and implementation plan for GEO BON. As a worldwide initiative, GEO BON, a component of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) seeks to link and build on the work of countries, organisations and individuals to collect, manage, share and analyse data on the status of the world's biodiversity. To this end, GEO BON will draw on existing global efforts such as that of GBIF whose capacity building programme and informatics network can help ensure that GEO BON builds on, and leverages, GBIF's successes in these areas.

Dr Anne Larigauderie (DIVERSITAS) and Dr Nick King (GBIF) jointly presenting the “GEO BON – Implementation Overview” document for acceptance at the GEO V Plenary in Bucharest, 19 November 2008.

At the GEO V Plenary, GBIF also provided a booth that highlighted GBIF's contribution to developing a global biodiversity informatics infrastructure, including contributions to GEOSS and GEO BON.

The GBIF Booth at the GEO V Plenary in Bucharest, 19-20 November 2008.