Envisioning a Biodiversity Information Network (BIN)

In today’s fast-paced world, timely and accessible data is the key to making informed decisions about our planet’s biodiversity. Recently, I had the opportunity to participate in a workshop at the Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (AFWA) Annual Meeting that explored an emerging collaborative initiative: the Biodiversity Information Network (BIN). My colleagues in the workshop included Max Tarjan (NatureServe) and Zack Wurtzebach (Center for Large Landscape Conservation). This effort aims to streamline access to high-quality biodiversity data while building a community of data providers and decision-makers. I want to share some insights from the workshop and why I believe this initiative could significantly impact conservation efforts across the country.??

Why a Biodiversity Information Network???

The need for centralized, high-quality biodiversity data has been discussed for years. Still, with increasing challenges to conservation—from habitat loss to climate change—the conversation is more relevant than ever. Many of us in the conservation field know the frustration of duplicating efforts or working with incomplete information because we didn’t know what resources were available. The BIN aims to change this by bringing together existing resources to support better, data-driven decision-making.??

At the workshop, representatives from federal authorities, NGOs, and state agencies came together to share their perspectives on the BIN. While it’s still in early stages, the idea was met with enthusiasm from conservation professionals working on different scales. Not only would the BIN provide an entry point for authoritative information on imperiled and common biodiversity, but it would also become a hub for collaboration—connecting data providers and users and enabling us to work more efficiently together.??

What Would the BIN Look Like???

The NatureServe Network offers a demonstration of the value of coordinating both people and information. By uniting state and provincial data providers, NatureServe collaboratively develops methodologies for data collection and analysis and aggregates local information for regional and national planning. Individual member programs are also directly connected with decision-makers in their jurisdictions. At the core of our work is tracking imperiled species and ecosystems, focusing on foundational information on taxonomy, status, and threats, along with documented and predicted occurrences.??

NatureServe is the backbone of the nation’s biodiversity data infrastructure, but we’re far from the whole story. Other entities, including Avian Knowledge Network , assemble important data on specific taxa like birds. Similarly, while NatureServe creates the highest-quality distribution models for imperiled species, we recognize that others—such as the U.S. Geological Survey —provide models on common species to help keep them common.?????

The vision for the BIN is a network of networks that would create a coordinated entry point for biodiversity information that includes foundational data on species, location information including predictive models, and even support technologies and tools to help guide conservation actions.???

Imagine how much more efficient our conservation work could be if we had all the information we needed at our fingertips. When we don’t have to reinvent the wheel, we can focus on more pressing tasks—like protecting the species with the greatest need and restoring their habitats.??

Real-World Applications: Solving Conservation Problems??

For state agencies, the BIN could be a game-changer. As many of you know, State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) require high-quality information to identify Species of Greatest Conservation Need. The BIN would also help states satisfy a key element of SWAP planning: coordination with federal, state, tribal, and local agencies. In addition to ease of access to information, states that participated in the AFWA workshop expressed the desire to share their resources—such as geospatial tools for planning—more effectively with others. Instead of tracking down information and rebuilding existing tools and technologies, managers could focus on developing and implementing actionable plans for species protection.??

The BIN would also help elevate and contribute to the success of landscape-scale or regional initiatives. For example, Southeast Conservation Blueprint (2023 version) pulls together data from myriad sources, including NatureServe, to identify priority areas for regional conservation. Future revisions of this blueprint would benefit from centralized information, and updates could contribute resources to the BIN in turn.?

At the national level, different land management agencies often have slightly different mandates for planning and protection. The BIN could help support coordination and consistency in agency-led efforts. It would also promote efficiencies in key policy processes, such as Endangered Species Act (ESA) assessments and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) reviews.??

Reflections from the Workshop??

Our discussions at the AFWA meeting touched on several key elements that would be crucial for the success of the BIN. One of the most important was secure access to sensitive information. While some participants believed that concerns over data security are often exaggerated, there was broad agreement that a purely open-data model would not meet the needs of many stakeholders.??

In addition to raw data, an actionable BIN would include “value-add” analytical products, such as species habitat models and climate change vulnerability assessments for critical habitat. These resources could help shift much of our focus from species-specific decision-making to more nuanced strategies encompassing multiple species and their habitat under current and changing conditions.??

Lastly, participants highlighted the importance of partnerships. The success of the BIN will depend on the active involvement of state and federal agencies, NGOs, academic institutions, and even private landowners. Each of these groups brings unique expertise and resources to the table, and by working together, we can make the BIN a truly collaborative and effective tool.??

What’s Next?

While there’s still work to be done, the workshop was an important first step in bringing the Biodiversity Information Network to life. In the coming months, we will engage stakeholders, refine the BIN’s vision, and scope opportunities to pilot the network on a regional or taxonomic level. These pilots will help us understand what’s working and where we need to adjust our approach before rolling out the BIN more broadly.?

Together, we can make the Biodiversity Information Network a reality—and with it, we can drive more efficient, effective, and coordinated conservation efforts across the country.??