Thanks, Arpit ji, I think it's wonderful work!!! We certainly need such a resource for Indian Flora. It will certainly be of great use.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Arpit Deomurari <[email protected]> Date: 15 December 2010 12:04 Subject: AVIS - IBIS (Avian Information System - Indian Biodiversity Information System) launched on 14th Dec. 2010 at New Delhi Dear Friends.... An initiative to build an interactive web-based database and information system on biodiversity called the Indian Biodiversity Information System (IBIS) has been embarked upon by Foundation and Ecological Security, Anand, Gujarat. The portal was launched by Shri Vijai Sharma, Honorable Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Forest marking an important initiative in the International year of Biodiversity. It brings me immense pleasure to inform you all that we have just launched first portal AVIS. AVIS is covering all Indian Birds (Avian Information System - AVIS). covering nearly 1329 species in detail from Indian region. A fundamental prerequisite in the conservation of biological diversity is the availability of adequate and reliable information, which aids in developing conservation strategies. However, much of this data and literature is archived in books and not easily accessible. FES has built upon IBIS so as to enable more people to access and build such information. To start with, all available data on birds of India have been collated and digitised to develop the first phase of the IBIS Portal titled ‘Avian Information System (AVIS)’. In the coming year, IBIS will expand to build similar portals on mammals, reptiles, amphibians and flora involving interested individuals, organisations, researchers and scholars across India. Besides all archival information available at single place, the IBIS is an “open beta version” enabling it to obtain feedback from users, add features and build upon the existing database. The interactive portal uses open-source software and helps the users to contribute data to the portal that would be periodically reviewed by experts. IBIS follows the creative commons licensing policy enabling appropriate attribution to the data provider and collaborators. Initiated by FES, IBIS would evolve as a collaborative platform with interested individuals, organizations, researchers and scholars across India for biodiversity conservation. *AVIS At-A-Glance Modules on the portal:* *General species profiles*, which will be public participatory but peer reviewed *Copyright-free books on birds and natural history* *Taxonomy module with the following checklists* Clements Checklist of Birds of the World (Ver 6.4), International Ornithological Congress (IOC) Checklist of the Birds of the World (Ver 2.4), A Synopsis of Birds of India and Pakistan by Ripley & Ali, Handbooks of the Birds of Indian and Pakistan by Ali and Ripley, Birdlife International Checklist (Ver 2), IUCN Checklist (2010), Oriental Bird Club Checklist Draft (Nov. 2009), Howard and Moore Complete Checklist of the Birds of the World (3rd Ed.) *Excerpts from various existing books and literature* About 18,126 excerpts from 37 Books have been entered into the database. These books encompass the year span of 1862 to 1949.Old taxonomy has been linked to latest taxonomy. All major ornithological publications have been covered, including Fauna of British India –Birds (1st and 2nd Editions – 12 volumes), Nests and Eggs of Indian Birds (3 volumes), The Birds of India (3 volumes), The Avifauna of British India and its dependencies (2 volumes). *Bibliography and scientific literature* Bibliography of Indian Birds with almost 1,00,000 + citations in global coverage have been incorporated. There has been an extensive coverage from the year 1758 to 2010, spanning almost 252 years. *Links to other copyright publication* The portal also features links to other dedicated database (presently covering approximately 23 databases). *GBIF database on museum collections* About 93,974 museum records have been incorporated in the exclusive Museum Collection Database covering about 32 major avian collection museums such as the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology (15,802 Records), Field Museum, Chicago (6,690 Records), Yale University Peabody Museum (4,832 Records), Museum of Comparative Zoology, Harvard University (4,114 Records). *Bird Calls and Sound* We have embedded Bird calls with the help of xeno-canto.org Avian Information System is one of the first steps towards creating a larger resource base (IBIS) on the invaluable biodiversity of the Indian subcontinent. Not only will this be followed by similar portals on various other floral and faunal groups, but it is also envisaged that the portal will serve as a model for developing similar systems and evolve through public participation, use and contribution. The success of the initiative lies in the manner in which the various interactive tools will serve the efforts towards achieving research, conservation and education goals, or just help arouse/address simple curiosity. It is hoped that the various modules/ tools incorporated for public participation will encourage the involvement and interest of different user groups. We welcome feedback, contribution and active participation........at http://avis.indianbiodiversity.org/ -- Arpit Deomurari Deputy Manager - GIS & Bird Photographer AVIS-IBIS Coordinator. Foundation for Ecological Security, Anand, Gujarat. E-Mail:- [email protected] [email protected] Web site: http://www.waders.in http://indianaturewatch.net/view_cat.php?tag=Arpit%20Deomurari http://www.flickr.com/photos/deomurari Mobile No.:- +91-9426442243 (Mobile) I Believe In God, Only spell It Nature ******************************************* One should not have a job, career or profession- only a hobby, passion and a cause Please consider your environmental responsibility before printing this e-mail - Save paper. Confidentiality Notice: This email is confidential and may also be privileged. You should not copy the email or disclose its contents to any other person as it is solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom it is addressed. If you have received this message in error, please contact the sender and delete this message from your computer. Internet communications cannot be guaranteed to be timely, secure, error- or virus-free. General Statement: Any statements made, or intentions expressed in this communication may not necessarily reflect the view of Arpit Deomurari. Be advised that no content herein may be held binding upon Arpit Deomurari or any associate or any associated companies unless confirmed by the issuance of a formal contractual document. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "seriousbirders" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]<seriousbirders%[email protected]> . For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/seriousbirders?hl=en. -- With regards, J.M.Garg ([email protected]) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Jmgarg1 'Creating awareness of Indian Flora & Fauna' The whole world uses my Image Resource of more than a *thousand species* & eight thousand images of Birds, Butterflies, Plants etc. (arranged alphabetically & place-wise): http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:J.M.Garg. You can also use them for free as per liberal licensing conditions attached with each image. For identification, learning, discussion & documentation of Indian Flora, please visit/ join our Google e-group- Efloraofindia: http://groups.google.co.in/group/indiantreepix (more than 1465 members & 56,400 messages on 9/12/10 & with a database of around 4350 species on 15/11/10)
