BYINNOCENT AKAMPURIRA, UgaBIF NODE MANAGER, UNCST2011 TDWG CONFERENCE NEW ORLEANS, USA 16TH – 21ST OCTOBER 2011

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UNCST is a semi-autonomous government agency established in 1990 by an Act of Parliament (CAP 209). It is mandated to facilitate and coordinate the development and implementation of policies and strategies for integrating Science and Technology (S&T) into the national development process.

Its mission is to provide effective and innovative leadership in the development, promotion and application of science and technology and its integration in sustainable national development.

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The thousands of different species

The diversity of their genes, physiologies, and behaviours

The multitude of their ecological interactions

The variety of the ecosystems they constitute

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This biodiversity, which is as a result of more than 3 billion years of evolution, is under serious threat leading to these difficult questions

How much biodiversity do we have?

How is biodiversity changing?

Why is biodiversity changing?

What are the ecological consequences of biodiversity changes?

What are the social and economical consequences of biodiversity changes?

How can we best use and conserve biodiversity for the next generations?

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A consortium with diversity of professions in Uganda (Stakeholders) agreed to establish the Uganda Biodiversity Information Facility (UgaBIF) to integrate biodiversity informatics benefits for sustainable development in Uganda.

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is a data sharing mechanism that facilitates: is a data sharing mechanism that facilitates: • Policy FormulationPolicy Formulation• Conservation PlanningConservation Planning• Science Education Science Education • Research and Research and • Product Development Product Development

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The UGaBIF Portal is a result of the GBIF mentoring project between UgaBIF and ETI BioInformatics 7

Portal navigation toolbarPortal navigation toolbar

Quick search entry points

Learning about Ugandan biodiversity: Quick access to selected species

General information:

About UgaBIF, news, partners,

etc.

The species section presents ‘rich’ information on

species that serves many user groups …

Using the UgaBIF portal is easy: Try for instance the general

search text box…

You can use the bounding box or the polygon tool to

look for data and information within an area of your

particular interest

Search by location in UgaBIF portal15

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As result you get a list with all the records (in this case about 476 species). Use the links to explore the available data further.

Reliable ICT Infrastructure (bandwidth, power supply)

Heterogeneous databases Data digitisation and quality assurance Human resource development programmes Availability and accessibility of geospatial

layers Stakeholder expectations

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Heterogeneous Heterogeneous DatabasesDatabases

Protocols, standards Protocols, standards and tools to share and tools to share

informationinformation

Standardized Standardized structured Datastructured Data

<response> <record> …

<request>

Mechanism for Mechanism for integration of integration of

resultsresults

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Demonstrate local relevance - To address o address national needs and priorities.national needs and priorities.

Provide tangible tools and services to support policy implementation, conservation planning, sustainable use and decision making.

Build strategic partnerships and collaborations

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Acknowledgment•UNCST•GBIF•Tulane University•ETI Bioinformatics

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Thank youwww.ugabif.go.ug

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