Regional Approach to Biodiversity Information Management and Reporting in Southeast Europe

Abstract

Featuring a large variety of ecosystems, abundant freshwater and forest resources, unique extensive karstic systems, and a high level of biodiversity and endemism, Southeast Europe (SEE) plays a crucial role in the conservation of biodiversity in Europe and beyond. In order to conserve and sustainably use these biodiversity assets and valuable natural resources, a regional concerted approach in the field of biodiversity information management and reporting (BIMR) has been strengthened. This has enabled improvement in access, transparency and exchange of biodiversity data and reporting processes among the participating economies. Certain significant and visible progress among SEE economies and stakeholders is due to to the knowledge gained about regional and national BIMR baselines, agreed and elaborated minimum Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and European Union (EU) requirements on BIMR among stakeholders and implemented BIMR tools (e.g., a regionally unified fundamental database for the Information System for Nature Conservation (ISNC), for instance in Montenegro (http://zasticenapodrucja-cg.tk//en), Bosnia and Herzegovina/entity of Republika Srpska (http://e-priroda.rs.ba/en/) and entity of Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and North Macedonia (Standard Data Form - SDF application for NATURA 2000) and compiled dataset on five taxonomic groups of endemic taxa using the Darwin Core standard). Therefore, BIMR activities/priorities from the region have become more evident and supported along with ownership of BIMR tools acquired by the partner institutions and recognized at the global level through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).