Since its inception, GBIF has focused its data digitisation and mobilisation activities on natural history collections data. However, targets such as the discovery of 5 billion and mobilisation of up to 2 billion primary biodiversity data records require that GBIF data discovery and mobilisation activities place equal emphasis on other data types.

Currently over 60% of the data records accessible through GBIF are observational records. This demonstrates the potential of data types in addition to natural history collection to rapidly increase the volume, depth and density of GBIF mobilised data. So, in addition to natural history collections data, GBIF has recently initiated activities to encourage discovery and mobilisation of other types of primary biodiversity data, such as observational data and multimedia resources in biodiversity.