Review of Policies for Biodiversity Informatics in Central Africa: Case Studies of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Gabon

Abstract

Biodiversity informatics is an emerging discipline which deals with the collection, collation, analysis, prediction, and dissemination of data and information related to the earth’s biotic resources. This article is a review of the policy and legislation instruments relevant to biodiversity informatics, grouped in four categories, (i) mobilizing biodiversity data, (ii) standards, protocols, and tools, (iii) informatics infrastructure-building initiatives, and (iv) capacity-building, outreach and open access initiatives. A meta-analysis of 705 documents on policies, legislations and papers about biodiversity data management in Central Africa (Case studies of DRC and Gabon) was conducted. A number of search engines were used to find policies, legislation and articles relevant to this review. Results showed that although significant efforts have been invested in developing policies, the enactment of biodiversity-related legislation and establishing institutions is still weak. Successful implementation and enforcement of policies is greatly impeded by several factors which, in turn, constitute challenges to biodiversity data management. Weaknesses in institutional frameworks are characterized, among other factors, by poor coordination, inadequate funding of biodiversity protection, corruption and jurisdictional conflicts. Findings from this review suggest that the governments of DRC and Gabon need to take urgent action to reform flawed biodiversity-related policy and legal instruments, ensure their effective enforcement and strengthen the institutions in charge of biodiversity conservation.