Our company has taken an important step towards transparency and open access to information by publishing biodiversity data on the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) – the world’s largest international platform providing open access for biodiversity data.
This initiative follows the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development’s (EBRD) guidance on biodiversity data sharing, which encourages clients and consultants to make all primary biodiversity data collected during EBRD-financed projects openly available. Such data, also known as taxon occurrence records, represent documented evidence that a species was observed at a specific location and time. These data are essential for science, policy, and decision-making processes, contributing to global efforts to monitor and conserve biodiversity.
As part of this effort, our company has published biodiversity occurrence data collected during the Podujeva Waste Water Project, financed by the EBRD. Rapid biodiversity assessments were conducted within the project, during which experts gathered flora and fauna observations in the field. These records were formatted in accordance with the Darwin Core Standard required by GBIF, a process that involved careful taxonomic verification and quality checks to ensure scientific accuracy before the data was approved for publication.
This milestone also aligns with the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), adopted in December 2022 by 196 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. The GBF calls for urgent action to halt and reverse biodiversity loss by 2030, with a vision of living in harmony with nature by 2050. In particular, Target 21 highlights the importance of making biodiversity data and knowledge accessible to decision-makers, practitioners, and the public.
In line with these global commitments, the EBRD launched its Approach to Nature at the COP28 Climate Conference in 2023. Structured around the pillars Protect, Invest, and Disclose, the Approach sets out how the Bank will scale up nature action and support clients in making nature-related disclosures, including publishing biodiversity baseline data through GBIF.
By sharing these data on GBIF, we are contributing to a global effort to make biodiversity information accessible for researchers, policymakers, and the wider public. This step not only strengthens our collaboration with EBRD, but also reflects our commitment to supporting international best practices, advancing scientific collaboration, and building a reliable evidence base for biodiversity conservation worldwide.
