In the heart of Poland, a quiet revolution is underway, one that could reshape how we understand and protect our planet’s biodiversity. At the Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, researchers have been digitizing their vast natural history collections, and the results are staggering. By sharing these data through the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), they’ve unlocked a treasure trove of information that’s proving invaluable, not just for academia, but for industries like energy, which rely on a deep understanding of ecosystems.
Imagine a world where every specimen collected over centuries is just a click away, accessible to scientists, conservationists, and even energy companies planning new projects. This is the world that Bogdan Jackowiak, a professor at the Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany, and his team are helping to create. “The scientific value of locally collected biodiversity data significantly increases once made available on the GBIF platform,” Jackowiak asserts. “It’s not just about accessibility; it’s about reliability, global comparisons, and new analyses.”
The numbers speak for themselves. Over 2.2 million digital records from the Faculty of Biology have been shared through GBIF, leading to approximately 123,000 downloads and an astonishing 45 billion records accessed. But the real impact is seen in the scientific community, with an average of three publications per week citing this data. These aren’t just any publications; they’re appearing in prestigious journals and covering a broad range of topics, from fundamental biology to applied research in agriculture, human health, and even climate science.
For the energy sector, this could mean a paradigm shift. Companies planning wind farms, solar parks, or even oil and gas explorations often need to understand local ecosystems to minimize environmental impact. Access to detailed, reliable biodiversity data could streamline environmental impact assessments, help in planning mitigation strategies, and even guide restoration efforts. “The thematic scope of papers utilizing our data is very broad,” Jackowiak explains. “It’s not just about taxonomy or paleobiology anymore. We’re seeing studies on biodiversity loss, biological invasions, biogeographical patterns—all crucial for informed decision-making in various sectors, including energy.”
The process of digitizing and sharing data isn’t just about uploading files; it’s about standardization and harmonization. This ensures that data from different institutions worldwide can be compared and analyzed together, creating a global biodiversity information system. Each component, no matter how small, holds significant importance.
The feedback mechanism created by this process is a powerful motivator. As more institutions see the benefits of sharing their data, they’re encouraged to continue and improve their digitization efforts. This, in turn, contributes to a deeper understanding of biodiversity and its conservation.
The research, published in the journal Diversity, translates to ‘Variety’ in English, underscores the potential of open-access databases like GBIF. As more data becomes available, the possibilities for new analyses and applications grow exponentially. For the energy sector, this could mean more sustainable practices, better environmental management, and ultimately, a greener future.
So, as the world grapples with climate change and biodiversity loss, initiatives like those at Adam Mickiewicz University offer a beacon of hope. By sharing knowledge and data, we can make informed decisions, protect our planet, and pave the way for a sustainable future. The energy sector, with its significant environmental footprint, has a lot to gain—and a lot to contribute—to this global effort.