Primary biodiversity data discovered and accessible through the GBIF network can be used for multiple purposes by various user communities worldwide. Thus, assessing and enhancing fitness for use of data is critical for the scientific and social relevance of GBIF.
In the recent past, GBIF has promoted the development of best practices guidelines, tools, protocols and training programmes that help assess and enhance the taxonomic and geospatial quality of data. GBIF’s Training Manual 1: Digitisation of Natural History Collections Data describes means of assessing data quality, techniques for data cleaning and enhancing quality, best practices for geo-referencing and generalising sensitive data. GBIF also holds training programmes, especially on geo-referencing of primary biodiversity data.
