ABSTRACT
Since the early 1990s, a rapidly expanding number of European projects have been initiated, all with the aim of organizing the appearance of biodiversity information in electronic databases. At the present time, the emphasis of these projects is on linking these databases together and on placing them in the framework of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). In order to create a common platform for these diverse projects, and to organize the European contribution to GBIF, the European Network for Biodiversity Information (ENBI) was established in 2003. ENBI will provide a centralized and clear overview of the interrelationships between all projects and initiatives and will promote a cooperative approach in support of the objectives of GBIF. ENBI is also identifying new plans and opportunities and supports some prioritized feasibility projects, with the aim of accelerating key aspects of the biodiversity infrastructure that are not yet in place. The combined efforts in ENBI are expected to provide a clear plan for how biodiversity resources should be maintained and developed in the twenty-first century.
