The mission of the Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility (FinBIF) is to collect, manage and share information on species. A species is the most central unit of biodiversity conservation, monitoring and research. We are a unique operator in Finland in terms of the information systems we maintain and our extensive expertise in biodiversity information. We are the world’s foremost expert in Finnish species data. We maintain and develop information systems available to researchers, authorities, the private sector, nature enthusiasts and the general public, making biodiversity information widely available in society.
FinBIF is a network of organisations producing, collecting, managing and using Finnish biodiversity information whose efforts are based on mutual agreements. The collection of biodiversity information produced by the network is coordinated and its availability maintained by the Finnish Museum of Natural History.
Vision
The biodiversity information available is key to understanding and improving the state of nature as well as safeguarding biodiversity.
Mission
The Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility offers comprehensive, up-to-date, reliable and understandable digital biodiversity information to all interested parties. Our operations support research, learning and informed decision-making in nature conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Strategic goals
The Finnish Biodiversity Information Facility promotes collaboration between producers of biodiversity information and improves dialogue with users of such information. FinBIF develops services, products and operations based on scholarly knowledge both locally and nationally. We ensure smooth collaboration by concluding between network operators the agreements necessary for operations. We prioritise the methods of producing and sharing biodiversity information that can be used to effectively improve the state of the environment in the long term, and we boldly take up new opportunities.
- Collection and compilation of data: We develop collaboration with parties collecting biodiversity information to make significant data widely available through our services. We inspire citizens to observe and monitor biodiversity.
- Production of new biodiversity information: We improve knowledge of the species living in Finland and their interactions, as well as promote taxonomic research on unknown species with the help of DNA sequencing and other advanced techniques. We maintain a national species checklist and a taxonomic database in Finland.
- Digitisation of resources: We digitise the scientific specimens included in our natural history collections to enable their extensive use in research. At the same time, we safeguard the preservation of information in the future.
- Maintenance and preservation of resources: We maintain primary data on observation and collection resources within the context of our agreed responsibilities. We serve as an archive of species data for current and future generations.
- Development of user-oriented services: We ensure that data are easily accessible and that our services are suited to their key uses. We produce useful visualisations and statistical data on our resources for users.
- Promotion of data usability: We ensure that FinBIF’s species datasets are interoperable with other national biodiversity information. We maintain data quality classifications and promote measures that improve data quality. We ensure that uniform metadata for datasets are available.
- Participation in international collaboration: We are an active operator in the international field. Through collaboration, we ensure the sharing and adoption of good practices and new methods. We make biodiversity information available through relevant international information infrastructures.
- Assistance to the authorities for more effective action: We provide up-to-date and reliable biodiversity information to enable authorities to make informed decisions that take nature into consideration. We contribute to actions taken by the authorities within the context of our roles.
- Production, compilation (or collection), management and sharing of biodiversity information that supports conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources: We offer high-quality biodiversity information, including geographic information, to achieve the goals of both conservation and the sustainable use of natural resources. Our services support the reconciliation of conservation and business operations as well as responsible business.
Values guiding our operations
- For the common good: We promote the wellbeing of nature and humans by sharing, free of charge and as openly as possible, information collected collaboratively by various operators and collaboration partners.
- Respectful collaboration: We network actively and succeed together by establishing strong partnerships. We value and respect the needs and wishes of information providers. We respect the rights of data owners. Producers of data lay the groundwork for our operations.
- Inspiration: We invest in the motivation of the information production network, as we believe that an enthusiastic network will produce the best results.
- Innovation: Our operations are continuously evolving, and we boldly look for new solutions to improve the availability and usability of biodiversity information.