Enhancing institutional capacity for biodiversity data management in the Hindu Kush Himalaya

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), in collaboration with regional partners, hosted a three-day regional training workshop to enhance institutional capacity for biodiversity data management in the Hindu Kush Himalaya. Bringing together professionals from across South Asia, the event focused on strengthening open-access biodiversity data mobilisation, standardisation, and publishing using global platforms like GBIF and HKHBIF. Participants gained hands-on experience with tools such as Darwin Core, OpenRefine, and the Integrated Publishing Toolkit, and explored the role of biodiversity data in research, policy, and sustainable development. The workshop concluded with a call to action for regional collaboration and the empowerment of ‘HKH Biodiversity Data Champions’ to drive data-driven conservation efforts.