Exploring strategies for the long-term sustainability of bio/geodiversity communities and infrastructures
Jutta Buschbom, Richard K. Rabeler, José Fortes, Elizabeth R. Ellwood
26th GfBS Annual Conference, Hamburg, Germany, 29 May – 1 June 2025
Statistical Genetics June 1, 2025
Abstract
A wealth of richly interlinked bio/geodiversity data and knowledge will be crucial for society to address accelerating biodiversity loss and globally monitor progress towards nature-positive ways of living.
Today a rich environment of powerful technical tools and data infrastructures exists together with engaged, motivated and productive communities of practice. Still, current infrastructures and networks do not easily scale to the needs of a global bio/geodiversity observation system. Moreover, global natural science networks currently are under stress due to multilateral governance being challenged, diminishing governmental funding and adverse political imperatives. These factors require the collections-based community and infrastructures to take stock, identify gaps and, from that basis, develop robust strategies for long-term sustainability.
Inspired by the call to be more imaginative in our visions and explorations, put forth by the IPBES “Transformative Change Assessment” (2024), we highlight some of the existing building blocks that are strengths of the collections-based bio/geodiversity community and then discuss opportunities for next steps, from realistically conceived to boldly envisioned paths, towards sustainability for our analog and digital infrastructures and social networks.
PDF of the presentation
Authors
Jutta Buschbom, Statistical Genetics, Ahrensburg, Germany, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7697-9214
Richard K. Rabeler, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6765-0353
José Fortes, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8870-5205
Elizabeth R. Ellwood, iDigBio, Gainesville, United States, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1602-1917
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation-funded BIOFAIR Data Network project, DBI-2303588.
