GBIF Malawi held a consultation in November 2015 with key national stakeholder institutions to introduce and seek commitment for the new node’s activities. Malawi joined GBIF in February 2015.
The event included representatives from the National Herbarium and Botanical Gardens of Malawi, Forestry Research Institute of Malawi, Museums of Malawi, Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust, University of Malawi Chancellor College - Biology Department, Malawi Plant Genetics Resource Centre, Environmental Affairs Department, Fisheries Research Institute, African Parks and the National Commission for Science and Technology (NCST), host institution of the GBIF national node.
Participants in the meeting agreed that the NCST, through its Department of Documentation and Information Services, should host a national biodiversity portal, and that signed agreements with stakeholders would facilitate the publishing of biodiversity data.
This activity is part of the GBIF Malawi advocacy action project, which was one of six projects to receive GBIF support in 2015.