Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG)

We are a non-profit organization and a community dedicated to developing biodiversity information standards.

Historically known as the Taxonomic Databases Working Group, today’s Biodiversity Information Standards (TDWG) is a not-for-profit, scientific and educational association formed to establish international collaboration among the creators, managers and users of biodiversity information and to promote the wider and more effective dissemination and sharing of knowledge about the world’s heritage of biological organisms.

To achieve its goals, TDWG:

  • Develops, ratifies and promotes standards and guidelines for the recording and exchange of data about organisms
  • Acts as a forum for discussing all aspects of biodiversity information management through meetings, online discussions, and publications

See the About section to learn how TDWG operates and how you can participate. Active Interest Groups are described under Community.

What's on at TDWG!
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  • New: Mineralogy Extension terms ratified. See more.

  • New: Deadline extended, to 13 November, for the call for sessions – Living Data 2027 See more

  • Darwin Core July additions ratified and next public review. See more.

  • Nominations are open for positions on the TDWG Executive Committee. Submit by 13 November 2026. See more.

  • Public review of the Minimum Information about a Digital Specimen (MIDS) standard See more.

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Mineralogy Extension terms ratified
November 01, 2026
Darwin Core now supports mineralogical and geological collections with 26 new properties, a new class, and one revised term
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Darwin Core July additions ratified and next public review
October 19, 2026
DwC triannual review is moving at a fast pace, don’t miss out
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Call for Nominations TDWG Executive Committee 2027-2028
October 19, 2026
Submit your nomination for an open position by November 13th, 2026
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Call for Sessions – Living Data 2027
October 08, 2026
📄 Propose a session with the theme from Living Data to Ecological Intelligence