A Pan-European Species-directories Infrastructure (PESI)
Yde de Jong, Charles Hussey, Mark Costello, Thierry Bourgin, Anton Guentsch, Ward Appeltans, Walter Berendsohn
Abstract
PESI (http://www.eu-nomen.eu/pesi) is a new initiative, funded by the European Union under the Framework 7 Capacities Work Programme: Research Infrastructures. This three-year project started in May 2008. Led by the University of Amsterdam, it will involve 40 partner organisations from 26 countries.
Progressing from earlier European programs on taxonomic indexing, PESI provides standardised and authoritative taxonomic information by integrating and securing Europe’s taxonomically authoritative species name registers and nomenclators (names databases) that underpin the management of biodiversity in Europe.
PESI defines and coordinates strategies to enhance the quality and reliability of European biodiversity information by integrating the infrastructural components of four major community networks on taxonomic indexing into a joint work programme. This will result in functional knowledge networks of taxonomic experts and regional focal points, which will collaborate on the establishment of standardised and authoritative taxonomic (meta-) data. In addition, PESI will coordinate the integration and synchronisation of the European taxonomic information systems into a joint e-infrastructure and the set up of a common user-interface disseminating the pan-European checklists and associated user-services results.
The organisation of national and regional focal point networks as projected, not only assures the efficient access to local expertise, but is also important for the synergistic promotion of taxonomic standards throughout Europe. PESI will be positioned to liaise with national governmental bodies on the implementation of European biodiversity legislation. In addition, PESI will promote the geographic expansion of the European expertise networks to eventually cover the entire Palaearctic biogeographic region.
PESI supports international efforts on the development of a 'Global Names Architecture' by building a common intelligent name-matching device in consultation with the principal initiatives GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility), TDWG, EoL (Encyclopedia of Life), LifeWatch, and EDIT (European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy)). PESI contributes to the development of a unified cross-reference system and promotes the use of high quality taxonomic standards. PESI will further involve the Europe-based nomenclatural services and link the planned joint European taxonomic e-infrastructures to the global e-gateway.
Progressing from earlier European programs on taxonomic indexing, PESI provides standardised and authoritative taxonomic information by integrating and securing Europe’s taxonomically authoritative species name registers and nomenclators (names databases) that underpin the management of biodiversity in Europe.
PESI defines and coordinates strategies to enhance the quality and reliability of European biodiversity information by integrating the infrastructural components of four major community networks on taxonomic indexing into a joint work programme. This will result in functional knowledge networks of taxonomic experts and regional focal points, which will collaborate on the establishment of standardised and authoritative taxonomic (meta-) data. In addition, PESI will coordinate the integration and synchronisation of the European taxonomic information systems into a joint e-infrastructure and the set up of a common user-interface disseminating the pan-European checklists and associated user-services results.
The organisation of national and regional focal point networks as projected, not only assures the efficient access to local expertise, but is also important for the synergistic promotion of taxonomic standards throughout Europe. PESI will be positioned to liaise with national governmental bodies on the implementation of European biodiversity legislation. In addition, PESI will promote the geographic expansion of the European expertise networks to eventually cover the entire Palaearctic biogeographic region.
PESI supports international efforts on the development of a 'Global Names Architecture' by building a common intelligent name-matching device in consultation with the principal initiatives GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility), TDWG, EoL (Encyclopedia of Life), LifeWatch, and EDIT (European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy)). PESI contributes to the development of a unified cross-reference system and promotes the use of high quality taxonomic standards. PESI will further involve the Europe-based nomenclatural services and link the planned joint European taxonomic e-infrastructures to the global e-gateway.