Observational data are recognized to be fundamental for scientific inventory, conservation planning, habitat management, invasive-species assessments, predictive range modeling, monitoring, and much more. An observation is a set of information that describes the presence or absence of an organism or assemblage of organisms through a data collection event at a location.
The standard is intended to benefit the research and conservation communities by facilitating data aggregation and sharing within and between organizations, such as data discovery through global search portals, and by fostering interoperability and collaboration.
To achieve these broader goals, NatureServe is a co-sponsor of the Taxonomic Databases Working Group (TDWG) Observational Data Subgroup. NatureServe will be offering this provisional standard as an input for that group’s work towards an international observation data standard.
Natural Heritage Methodology