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<p class=MsoPlainText>[apologies for cross posting]<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>The establishment of the Group on Earth Observations
Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON) was approved by GEO members at the
GEO V Plenary in Bucharest last November (<a
href="http://www.gbif.org/Stories/geobon">http://www.gbif.org/Stories/geobon</a>).
This is a culmination of efforts by many organisations, including GBIF, who
have devoted time to developing both a concept document and implementation
overview document for GEO BON. As a worldwide initiative, GEO BON, a component
of the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS) seeks to link and
build on the work of countries, organisations and individuals to collect,
manage, share and analyse data on the status of the world's biodiversity. For
further information, visit the GEO BON home page: <a
href="http://www.earthobservations.org/cop_bi_geobon.shtml">http://www.earthobservations.org/cop_bi_geobon.shtml</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>GEO BON is now entering its implementation phase, and to aid
this, a number of topical working groups are being established. Work Group 8
"Data Integration and Inter-operability; Informatics and Portals" is
being lead by GBIF through co-chairs Hannu Saarenmaa (GBIF Finland) and Éamonn
Ó Tuama (GBIF Secretariat). The attached document describes how the working
groups should get started. If you are interested in participating in a work
group, please contact the chair of the group as listed in the document. In
particular, for work group 8 (Data Integration and Interoperability), please
contact the co-chairs below by Friday, 5th June.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Best regards,<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Hannu and Éamonn<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Hannu Saarenmaa<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>GBIF Finland<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><a href="mailto:hannu.saarenmaa@helsinki.fi">hannu.saarenmaa@helsinki.fi</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Telephone +358-9-191-28688<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Mobile +358-50-3102689<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><a href="http://www.gbif.fi/">http://www.gbif.fi/</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Éamonn Ó Tuama<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>GBIF Secretariat<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><a href="mailto:eotuama@gbif.org">eotuama@gbif.org</a> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText>Telephone +45 3532 1494<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><a href="http://www.gbif.org">http://www.gbif.org</a>
<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoPlainText><o:p> </o:p></p>
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