Observations of nature are the foundation of ecological studies, which uses them to search for patterns in nature and ultimately for biodiversity conservation. Organism observations (observational) data are a major constituent of primary biodiversity data. Currently, over 60% of GBIF-mobilised data is observational in nature.

To speed up the discovery and mobilisation of observational data, GBIF commissioned the GBIF Observational Data Task Group in January 2008 and is implementing its recommendations. GBIF has also commissioned a white paper on the significance of organism observations and is developing a training manual on the discovery, digitisation and mobilisation of observational data.

Download the Recommendations of the Observational Data Task Group (PDF).