Central African Biodiversity Information Network (CABIN)

By: Patricia Mergen

The Royal Museum for Central Africa (RMCA) is pleased to announce that the new project called "CABIN" (Central African Biodiversity Information Network) started 1 April 2008. The aim of this project, funded for a period of 5 years by the Belgian Cooperation and Development Agency, is the implementation of a network of databases on biodiversity information, in collaboration with several research institutions based in Central Africa (mainly Congo DRC, Rwanda and Burundi). The project is a multidisciplinary initiative involving the different departments and units of RMCA. Contacts have already made to involve other institutions in Belgium, Europe and worldwide holding information on Africa.

The activities encompassed in this project focus on:

• An assessment whose aim is to determine the needs of scientists from Central Africa in term of access to taxonomic and biodiversity information on Internet.
• Help researchers from Central Africa to identify the data from collections, databases and literature that are in their possession and relevant for a on-line publication
• Involve scientist from Central African and RMCA in digitizing, accessing and sharing data using internationally recognized protocols and tools as those recommended by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) and the Biodiversity Information Standards - TDWG. These objectives include both training and capacity building aspects.

On a more global scope the project contributes to the GBIF Capacity Enhancement Programme for Developing Countries (CEPDEC). CABIN is the first building block of a larger initiative announced at the 2007 annual Meeting of TDWG called "SABIN" for Sub-Saharan African Biodiversity Information Network, which aims at collaboration with already existing initiative in the region and to encourage new projects and additional funding in the field.

In this regard enthusiastic collaborators, who work on African Biodiversity related information, are welcome to contact us. We will refer to their activities on the soon coming SABIN website and discuss additional fund raising possibilities.

Contacts at the Biodiversity Information Unit
Promoter: Patricia Mergen (Patricia.Mergen(at)africamuseum.be)
Technical contact: Franck Theeten (Franck.Theeten(at)africamuseum.be)