New JRC technical report on Global Biodiversity Data Services (GBDS)

The European Commission’s Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD), hosted by the Joint Research Centre (JRC) recently published a technical report presenting the JRC Global Biodiversity Data Services (GBDS): Data Distribution Architecture, REST API and Query Builder.

Why is this important?

The Global Biodiversity Data Services (GBDS) - formerly the Digital Observatory for Protected Areas (DOPA) - is a set of web services and applications that can be used to assess, monitor and report on the state of biodiversity and the pressures affecting it. The GBDS system processes open-access global reference datasets to generate harmonised metrics and indicators. This report presents the data distribution architecture of the GBDS to a broad audience of potential users requiring harmonised biodiversity indicators for reporting and analysis. It demonstrates the system's policy relevance, explains how indicators are accessed through web services, and provides practical step-by-step guidance on using the Query Builder tool for non-technical users and the Swagger UI for developers.

Who will benefit from this work?

Policymakers, researchers, experts, regional partners, experts and developers can benefit from easier access to biodiversity indicators. In particular, the Query Builder lowers the technical barrier for non-programming users, while the GBDS REST API and Swagger UI support technical users and integration into other platforms. 

How does this contribute to EC priorities?

It supports evidence-based implementation and monitoring of EU and international biodiversity commitments, including the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, by providing consistent indicators that can support reporting and policy implementation.

What impact might this work have?

By making biodiversity indicators easier to discover, retrieve and reuse, GBDS distribution tools improve accessibility, interoperability and transparency, broadening the community able to use biodiversity evidence and facilitating its integration into national reporting, dashboards and other platforms. This strengthens collective capacity for biodiversity monitoring, reporting and evidence-based decision-making, while supporting regional and global partners, including Technical and Scientific Cooperation Support Centres (TSCCs), in implementing and tracking progress towards biodiversity targets.