IABIN Launched; World Bank Funds Start-Up Projects

The Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN) was officially launched at a meeting held April 15 - 18 in Brasilia, Brazil.  More than 100 scientists and specialists from throughout the Americas participated in the inaugural meeting, which was sponsored by the Brazilian Ministry of the Environment.  The meeting brought together officially designated national IABIN Focal Points for the first time and drew participation from more than double the number of countries previously engaged in IABIN.

Participants at the IABIN meeting examined possible governance models for the network, themes and criteria for potential pilot projects, cooperation opportunities with other initiatives, and capacity building and connectivity issues within the network.  The group agreed on a basic governance structure, a process for the establishment of the network, and a political host for IABIN.  These recommendations will be submitted to the Organization of American States Committee on Sustainable Development for endorsement.

The IABIN meeting established an official venue for communication and coordination of biodiversity information across countries of the Western Hemisphere.  Continued support of IABIN by the governments of the Americas and organizations involved with biodiversity information will ensure a network that effectively meets the needs of the biodiversity and decision-making communities throughout the Hemisphere.

Recognizing the need for a biodiversity network in the Americas, the World Bank’s Office of Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development for Latin America and the Caribbean Region is providing $470,000 to support the establishment of IABIN during 1999.  These funds will support projects to: (1) establish a structure for the organization and coordination of IABIN, (2) develop and expand technological tools and standards for biodiversity information (e.g. metadata databases, taxonomic authorities, etc.), and (3) initiate pilot studies on biodiversity issues to provide a framework for information sharing among IABIN participants.  These projects, developed in collaboration with IABIN experts and Focal Points, will set the baseline for successful implementation of the network.  The World Bank funding represents the largest financial contribution to IABIN since the initiative was first agreed on at the 1996 Summit of the Americas.

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