Photo by Anton Van de Putte licensed under CC BY 4.0

Jan 17, 2025

How to provide feedback on GBIF/OBIS data

A guide to provide feedback on GBIF/OBIS data

If you encounter issues or have suggestions for data published via GBIF (Global Biodiversity Information Facility) or OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System), here’s how you can provide feedback: Feedback for GBIF Data

On any GBIF page, you can click on the feedback button (circled in orange in the screenshot below) and submit your feedback. Note that you will need a GBIF account to do this.

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A form (as shown in the screenshot below) will appear, where you can provide your feedback following the instructions.

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Alternatively, you can report feedback through GBIF’s dedicated GitHub repository: https://github.com/gbif/portal-feedback/issues.

The feedback will be directed to the GBIF Helpdesk, which will follow up on the matter.

Feedback for OBIS data

Feedback for OBIS data is preferred to be submitted through its dataset page. OBIS dataset page links are prefixed with https://obis.org/dataset/ followed by the dataset’s UUID. From there, you can provide feedback by clicking the “report issue” button (circled in red in the screenshot below).

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A form (as shown in the screenshot below) will appear, where you can provide your feedback on the data.

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The feedback will be sent to the OBIS Helpdesk, which will follow up on the matter.

Contact us

If you are unsure or have a list of records for either GBIF or OBIS in the Antarctic region that you would like to provide feedback on, please contact us at data-biodiversity-aq at naturalsciences.be. We will review your input and follow up with you.

Tips for Submitting Feedback

Include Detailed Information

  • Specific data points (e.g., species name, location, date) with errors, including the occurrence ID or page URL of the record/dataset.
  • A clear explanation of the issue or suggestion.
  • Supporting evidence or references, if available.
  • Provide constructive feedback.

Track Your Feedback

You may receive follow-up emails or notifications about the status of your feedback. Please monitor your inbox for updates!

By providing feedback, you play an essential role in improving the accuracy and usability of biodiversity data. Thank you for contributing to this collaborative effort!