I3N Progress Andrea Grosse, I3N Manager

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1 I3N Progress Andrea Grosse, I3N Manager
Invasives Information Network (I3N) I3N Progress Abstract of presentation: Few countries have collected and organized their information and data on invasive alien species (IAS), and access to this information can be cumbersome. Customized informatics tools for collecting and organizing IAS information can help countries to better manage biological invasions. In the Americas, information from published and unpublished accounts and databases on invasive species is scattered in locations and formats not easily accessible even to local users. The Invasives Information Network (I3N) of the Inter-American Biodiversity Information Network (IABIN) created a distributed network of databases of invasive species, experts, projects, and datasets. I3N is composed of in-country information providers working towards the use of common standards. Each provider controls its information, though information is documented and posted in a standard format. The public can search the records for free from a single Web page. Software tools to assist with cataloguing and distributed searching were developed by the National Biological Information Infrastructure (USA), Instituto Horus (Brazil) and Universidad del Sur (Argentina). Invasive alien species profiles and occurrence information can be collected using the I3N Database for Invasive Alien Species, served on members’ Web sites, and exchanged in the globally recognized Extensible Markup Language (XML). I3N facilitates cooperation among countries and provides education and training on the use of tools. Coordinated by the National Biological Information Infrastructure of the United States Geological Survey, I3N is the first thematic network of IABIN and serves as an example of successful regional collaboration on an issue of global significance. Interest in I3N tools is spreading to countries in Africa and Asia. Andrea Grosse, I3N Manager National Biological Information Infrastructure/U.S. Geological Survey, USA IEC Meeting, 14 June 2006

2 Current Participants

3 Existing Services / Tools
I3N-El Salvador Tools for creating/exporting/displaying standardized records Information standards and guidance Country catalogs Access to all catalogs from single entry-point Bilingual search tool for national inventories of invasive species lists, experts, projects, and datasets Cross-country search and display Internet hosting of catalogs at no charge Extensive bilingual web site Repository for data, instructions, publications Listserv

4 Central Website

5 Search Across All Country Catalogs

6 Initial Tool Develop standard catalogs in each country Species lists
Data sets Projects Experts I3N Participant Data sets Species Lists Experts Projects

7 New Cataloguing / Delivery Tools
Expanded database Species profiles and occurrence records User-friendly Standards Controlled vocabulary: expanded, refined, trilingual Output in a format (XML) easily transferred via Web XML schema Website template User manuals Spanish, Portuguese, English

8 I3N Database on IAS Template
Microsoft Access 2000 Portuguese, Spanish, English interface Creates standardized records Dublin Core Metadata Standard Generates XML-tagged output species fact sheets reports: detailed or summary species lists, projects, contacts Categories Species Introduction Characteristics Occurrences Contacts Projects References ITIS Reference List Silvia Ziller, Horus Institute

9 International Collaboration
IUCN Invasive Species Specialist Group, ISSG Global Invasive Species Database (New Zealand) Global Invasive Species Information Network (GISIN) (Denmark, Argentina, Great Britain, Malaysia, China, Morocco, Zambia, New Zealand, Germany, USA) Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) TNC NatureServe BioNET The CBD “… welcomes the ‘I3N’ … and calls on the Global Environment Facility, Parties, Governments, and relevant organizations to support and participate in these initiatives” (Decision VI/23)

10 Current Activities Focus on capacity building and incorporating new participants Planning 5+ workshops Feedback from tool users, workshop participants Web page for obtaining I3N database Capacity building assessment / plan under stakeholder review Re-contract for CD toolkit, brochure, success stories Review I3N Database generate reports for projects and bibliographies? perform batch imports from other databases? Web-enabling? I3N website template with manuals in three languages Central website redesign Search function fielded searches Content-building grants Discussion paper on relationships Supporting global efforts to standardize IAS data GISP, GISIN, TNC Southeast Asia, Africa Coordination across countries and TNs

11 Capacity Building Beyond IABIN: GISIN: Morocco +++ 2006
Malaysia, Morocco, Ghana, Gambia, Ethiopia, Seychelles, Portugal, Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka: 2007? Mexico 2006 Bahamas 2006 Dominican Republic 2005 Guatemala ? Jamaica 2006 Costa Rica 2006? Colombia 2006 Venezuela 2006 Ecuador 2006 Peru 2006? SCB: Brazil Bolivia 2007 ? Paraguay 2006 Chile 2006 Uruguay 2005

12 Capacity Building A. Grosse/NBII: Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) Training workshop module developed/tested at international biodiversity conference 3-day module implemented in 5 countries plus Mexico Content building grant RFP developed 5 grant agreements concluded Contractor identifying capacity building needs and developing plan Contractor hired for developing brochure, success stories, toolkit

13 Highlights from I3N Lead reports, May 2006
Invasives Information Network (I3N) Highlights from I3N Lead reports, May 2006 Andrea Grosse, I3N Manager National Biological Information Infrastructure/U.S. Geological Survey, USA IEC Meeting, 14 June 2006

14 Country Websites for I3N

15 I3N-Argentina herramienta de publicación de información en Internet … versión preliminar puede verse en I3N Argentina estuvo representada en el Primer Simposio Brasilero sobre Especies Exóticas Invasoras … y en la Reunión técnica de la Red Global sobre Especies Invasoras se iniciaron contactos formales con el focal point de la CBD en el país tendientes a facilitar el uso de la información contenida en nuestra base de datos se expusieron las herramientas de I3N y se promocionó la base de datos nacional en la primera reunión técnica de manejo de invasiones biológicas de la Administración de Parques Nacionales se elaboró una propuesta de código voluntario de conducta para jardines botánicos nacionales … presentada ante representantes de los jardines botánicos argentinos se presentó la base de datos en las reuniones argentinas de Botánica y Mastozoología invitado a integrar el Comité Directivo (Interim Steering Committee) de GISIN … y el Comité Técnico Asesor de GISP

16 Se pueden realizar búsquedas de especies, especialistas o proyectos on-line.
En el caso de las especies los criterios de búsqueda incluyen datos taxonómicos, rango nativo de distribución, causa de introducción.

17 I3N-Brazil presentation of the I3N database during a Global Invasive Species Program side event at COP 8 in Curitiba served as the tool to record the information gathered during a national survey … by the Brazil Ministry of Environment … US $ 150,000 were invested to investigate the status of invasions in the natural environment generated a list of between 300 and 350 species survey also led to the promotion of the first national symposium on invasive alien species held in Brazil in Brasília in October 500 people attended sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, the Brazilian Federal Environmental Agency (IBAMA), The Nature Conservancy, The Horus Institute, the Working for Water Programme of the government of South Africa, and the United States Embassy

18 Principales Avances de la Red I3N en Chile
Integración de los miembros del Comité Operativo de Control de Especies Invasoras a la Red I3N Organización y realización del Taller de Capacitación sobre Invasiones Biológicas y Herramientas Disponibles para su Gestión ( entrenamiento Base de datos I3N - Chile) … Organizado por CONAMA, el Comité de Especies Invasoras y la Policía de Investigaciones de Chile:120 participantes en el Taller General y 23 profesionales en el entrenamiento de la base de datos. Elaboración y aprobación de la Política Nacional para la Protección de Especies Amenazadas … (Línea Estratégica orientada al desarrollo de acciones sobre especies exóticas invasoras, que dañen especies amenazadas o sus ecosistemas) Elaboración de proyecto FMAM/PNUMA/GIPS: fase PDF B, que apunta a generar un programa nacional integrado para el control de EEI y desarrollo de un Proyecto Piloto en una zona del país.

19 Desafíos y Propuestas Nacionales y su Relación con la Red I3N
Constituir un Grupo de Trabajo Técnico Nacional que aglutine a organismos competentes y proveedores de datos en I3N (nacionales y regionales). Identificación de proveedores de datos nacionales y regionales. Instalar capacidades para la constitución de la Red Nacional de Especies Invasoras, en términos orgánicos, técnicos y en cuanto a la plataforma técnica e informática, para el almacenamiento e intercambio de información al nivel nacional y con los demás miembros de la Red IABIN. Alcance: lo anterior, será tratado en el marco de las próximas sesiones ordinarias del Comité de Especies Invasoras y se llegará a un acuerdo de cómo capitalizar los aprendizajes, resultados y propuestas del Taller de Capacitación antes mencionado, como la operación y manejo de la base de datos I3N, entre otros.

20 I3N-Colombia Desarrollo de la aplicación de especies invasoras SIB -Instituto Humboldt proceso de estructuración de los registros biológicos para ponerlos a disposición Puesta a disposición de la lista preliminar de plantas invasoras

21 I3N-Dominican Rep nuevas personas y nuevas instituciones que se han sumado Especies Invasoras sugeridas en el taller realizará un taller … “Invasiones Biológicas en República Dominicana, Importancia Económica y Ecológica y una Propuesta para la Acción”… tiene como objetivo consensuar y enriquecer las informaciones existentes sobre especies invasoras en el país

22 I3N-Guatemala primer inventario de especies exóticas invasoras de Guatemala … en el 2002, se obtuvo un listado de más de 150 especies exóticas invasoras se actualizó la base de datos (IABIN) referente al listado de especies exóticas en el país iniciado a consolidar el CHM … en el cual ya tenemos un espacio estipulado para bases de datos sobre especies exóticas … actualmente nos encontramos recopilando información para poder completar y divulgar la información en éste sitio

23 I3N-Jamaica design … invasive species CD
used to assist the … National Invasive Alien Species Working Group … chaired by I3N Ja Lead amendment of the Wildlife and Protected Areas Act to include invasive species Numerous presentations and articles … publicized both locally and overseas, using information from the I3N Ja project

24 I3N-USA Organized and ran the technical experts meeting to discuss an invasive species profile schema, which is an extension of the I3N database schema Partnered with the Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) to improve the GISD Working with the US National Invasive Species Council and other federal agencies to create an invasive species early detection rapid assessment and response (EDRR) national framework (which will consist of a Web site with metadata about existing EDRR efforts)

25 Some discussion items (I3N)
Invasives Information Network (I3N) Some discussion items (I3N) Andrea Grosse, I3N Manager National Biological Information Infrastructure/U.S. Geological Survey, USA IEC Meeting, 14 June 2006

26 Possible future tools Natives that invade elsewhere
Case studies of successful control Taxonomic identification keys GIS data layers for species Species fact sheets by region Maps … Web publication template: beta at

27 Excerpt from I3N paper I3N Actor
Responsibilities focussed on coordination Coordinating Institution Chair TWG Select National Leads (with Focal Points) Keep Council and IEC informed of I3N activities Technical Working Group Serve in an advisory role to the CI on particular technical aspects, assisting the CI and responding to CI requests Identify common issues of data providers and I3N leads. Each member is also expected to keep the Focal Point and I3N Lead of her or his country, as well as other relevant experts and institutions, informed and to obtain their input when appropriate. Each member is also expected to identify new project ideas and priorities, and bring those to the attention of the TWG and CI National Leads Facilitate and provide access to data on invasive species in the Lead’s nation and throughout the Americas Utilize and promote IABIN standards and best practices among Data Providers Develop and maintain relationships with IABIN Focal Point, USGS/NBII, Secretariat and IEC Recruit and guide Data Providers Work with data providers, USGS/NBII, other TNs and Secretariat to ensure that IAS data is available through the IABIN and I3N websites and is fully compliant with IABIN data and metadata standards Coordinate with their Focal Points and their counterpart National Leads from other IABIN TNs to keep IABIN participants in their nation informed Data Providers Work in concert with National Leads, USGS/NBII, Secretariat and others to integrate data into the network Coordinate with National Leads and USGS/NBII to ensure that data complies with the standards and practices and addresses relevant needs within the Americas Secretariat Endeavor to have regular communication, collaboration, and joint working group meetings with other TNs, to facilitate integration Approach CIs of all TNs to identify needs and share strategies, techniques, contacts and applications Focal Points Select National Leads (with CI) Assist National Leads in promoting I3N information gathering and distribution activities among governmental institutions, NGOs, universities, and the in-country biological community

28 TN logos and name recognition
IABIN Invasives Information Network vs IABIN Invasive Species Thematic Network Already have name recognition for 'I3N' Invasives Information Network (I3N) Will other TNs also have abbreviation? How to use abbreviation in logo? Invasives Information Network (I3N)

29 Search Across All Country Catalogs
The central website contains a search engine developed by NBII using a simple version of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) "Mercury" tool. It performs a free-text search of html, XML, PDF, text, and of most common word processing and spreadsheet files (e.g., Word, WordPerfect, Excel, Lotus). However, this particular version of the Mercury tool does not search Microsoft Access databases, nor can it navigate into other search systems. If you wish to add your information to this search, send an message to with the URL you wish to have searched and a brief description of your data. We encourage data formats in XML that are compatible with the I3N standards.

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32 Challenges Not easy! Many Challenges.
Most countries have not started assessing the problem of invasives, and many lack needed resources and information management capacity. In the Americas, information from published and unpublished accounts and databases on invasive species is scattered, often in formats not easily accessible even to local users. Data that are not readily available for people or agencies abroad, including gray literature, graduate and post-graduate dissertations, government and NGO reports, and herbaria and museum collections. Tools for compiling existing information and making it accessible on the Internet save time and resources and provide a valuable service to users world-wide. Through I3N, in-country information providers are working towards the use of common standards. Standardization is needed for: data fields, minimum content, software products, and protocols.