University of Jos/A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute is said to be playing a pivotal role in mobilizing biodiversity data in Nigeria.
A statement issued by Abdullahi Abdullahi, Senior Registrar Information and Publication of the University says a report by the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) shows that since APLORI joined the organization as a publisher in 2021 through the Biodiversity Information for Development programme, the Institute has contributed over 500,000 records to GBIF, which is more than four times the number of records contributed by all other institutions in Nigeria combined.
Abdullahi in the statement explained that the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) is an international network and data infrastructure funded by the world’s governments aimed at providing open access to data about all types of life on Earth.
He said the programme is being Coordinated through its Secretariat in Copenhagen, Denmark, the GBIF network of participating countries and organizations, provides data-holding institutions around the world with common standards, best practices and open-source tools enabling them to share information about where and when species have been recorded.
Abdullahi in the statement said, According to the GBIF report, APLORI now stands unchallenged as the largest source of data about biodiversity in Nigeria, earning Nigeria a renewed status as a Voting Participant in GBIF with the voting right exercised through the country’s Minister of Environment.
This remarkable achievement he added underscores APLORI’s dedication to conservation and its pivotal role in advancing public understanding of biodiversity, contributing valuable insights for global Researchers, Educators, and policy makers alike.
Reacting to this recent development, APLORI Director, Associate Professor Adams A. Chaskda said “We are committed to doing more to enhance the understanding of the Nigerian environment and in research in line with the vision of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Tanko Ishaya and Management of the University of Jos. We believe that open data is essential for conservation”.
He said he believes that APLORI’s contribution to GBIF is a testament to the Institute’s commitment to conservation, as the data helps to improve public understanding of biodiversity and informs the global community of the Institute’s conservation efforts.
The statement further revealed that A.P. Leventis Ornithological Research Institute (APLORI) is the foremost Ornithological Research Institute in West Africa, located in Laminga, Jos-East Local Government Area of Plateau State.
According to the statement, the centre is dedicated to Ornithological Research and capacity building in West Africa, adding that the Institute was set up in 2002 by the Leventis Foundation Nigeria, which remains the Institute’s principal source of funding.
Strategic management of APLORI is through a collaboration of research and teaching stakeholders in the University of Jos, the Institute and external experts including the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, BirdLife and other international Universities.
International Researchers carrying out fieldwork usually consider APLORI as a convenient base in the African Savannah biotic community, actively collaborating with the Institute’s Research staff on diverse projects such as Avian influenza, migrant bird declines, biodiversity conservation or even nest building behaviour in weavers.
APLORI’s data collection efforts focus on birds through the Nigerian Bird Atlas Project (NiBAP), but the Institute also collects data on other species, such as small mammals, butterflies, and plants.
The Institute’s bird data is made available through GBIF, where it can be accessed by Researchers, Educators, and policy makers around the world”.
So far,, he explained that the data has received 21 citations in peer reviewed journals and other publications and the number is still growing.
Source: UniJos Alumni platform