[Science News] - From Bouchout to Disentis: ten years of commitment to sharing knowledge about biodiversity

In 2014, the Bouchout Declaration on Open Biodiversity Knowledge Management was drafted during a symposium at Meise Botanic Garden. Named after our historic castle, this declaration established ten fundamental principles aimed at opening access to digital biodiversity resources to support scientific research and policy-making. Over the past ten years, numerous institutions and experts have endorsed the Bouchout Declaration, demonstrating a global commitment to making biodiversity data more accessible.

The progress made since the creation of the Bouchout Declaration has led to the Disentis Roadmap, a new initiative designed to enhance access to global biodiversity knowledge over the next decade. This roadmap was developed during a symposium in August 2024 at the Disentis Abbey in the Swiss Alps. The event brought together 51 experts from ten countries and four continents, including Steven Dessein and Quentin Groom, representing Meise Botanic Garden.

Highlighting the crucial role of open biodiversity data in addressing environmental and societal challenges, the roadmap emphasizes the need to overcome barriers to open access. It aligns with international initiatives such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the EU Biodiversity Strategy, advocating for the creation of interconnected, openly accessible, and machine-readable data platforms.

By facilitating the free flow of knowledge, the roadmap aims to empower scientists, policymakers, and the public to make informed decisions that contribute to the conservation and sustainable use of global biodiversity.