For Environment, Democracy and Livelihoods
Nepal, an ecologically rich landscape comprising of significantly high biodiversity, with its dramatic elevation gradient creates a mosaic of distinct ecosystem. The upswing in recent biodiversity research has improved data acquisition however, there exist a notable gap in awareness and capacity for open-access data sharing and mobilization. Thus, to acknowledge the existing challenges and opportunities, in support of Global Biodiversity
Information Facility (GBIF), led by ForestAction Nepal (FAN) in collaboration with International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), organised a two-day National Consultation workshop from 31 st August to 1 st September 2025 on “Enhancing Biodiversity Data Mobilisation” that brought together 24 experts from government agencies responsible for biodiversity conservation and management, biodiversity experts, academia and national herbaria and museums to discuss their scope, priorities and interest in sharing and mobilising biodiversity data. The workshop further emphasized on disseminating knowledge on biodiversity data mobilization and develop insights for proposal and partnerships to address targets of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF).
The consultation addressed Nepal’s biodiversity data mobilisation challenges and opportunities, highlighting the importance of collaborative, multidisciplinary methods that integrate scientific capabilities, policy frameworks, and institutional support. The event emphasized GBIF’s role in providing open-access biodiversity data platforms, while addressing ethical, legal, and technical considerations. High priority revolved around capacity building, data quality assurance, policy harmonization, and leveraging technology for sustainable biodiversity management in line with global and regional targets. Moving forward, strategic use of open access platform such as GBIF and its regional node Hindu Kush Himalayan Biodiversity Information Facility (HKHBIF) is of essence, as is exploring into potential funding such as Global Biodiversity Fund and support long term initiatives for data sharing and mobilisation.
