Contacts
LifeWatch Portugal
- pbeja[at]cibio.up.pt
- +351 25 26 60 41 10
LifeWatch Portugal is managed by PORBIOTA, the Portuguese e-Infrastructure for Information and Research on Biodiversity. Led by BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, PORBIOTA connects the principal Portuguese research institutions working in biodiversity: storing and managing biodiversity data aimed at fostering a national agenda for biodiversity research, providing services and raising awareness of biodiversity. The PORBIOTA consortium includes national R&D centres, natural history museums, the Portuguese node of GBIF, the Institute for Nature Conservation and Forests (ICNF) and national ICOS and LTER-related networks.
LifeWatch Portugal contributes to the promotion of integrative taxonomy and building up knowledge of national biodiversity, comprising descriptions of new species both for science and at a national level. It promotes advancements in highly competitive cutting-edge areas, such as metabarcoding and environmental metagenomics. By fostering research into biodiversity, ecosystems functions and ecosystem services, it generates high-quality knowledge to meet societal challenges regarding sustainable development.
Download the leaflet to find out more about LifeWatch Portugal.
Organisation
PORBIOTA connects the principal Portuguese research institutions working in biodiversity:
- BIOPOLIS/CIBIO-InBIO – Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto;
- cE3c-FCUL, LEAF-ISA and CEF-ISA, University of Lisbon;
- CESAM, University of Aveiro;
- MARE, University of Coimbra;
- Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo;
and three of Portugal’s most prestigious natural history museums:
- MUHNAC (University of Lisbon);
- MC (University of Coimbra);
- MHNC-UP (University of Porto).
It also includes the national governmental agency responsible for biodiversity conservation and sustainable use (ICNF), the Portuguese node of GBIF and the Portuguese Ecological Society (SPECO). PORBIOTA is listed in the Portuguese Roadmap of Research Infrastructures of strategic interest (RNIE), which includes LTsER Portugal, ICOS Portugal and Azores BIOPORTAL.
Activities
PORBIOTA’s action plan will contribute to the attainment of LifeWatch ERIC‘s key goals:
Data source and infrastructure management; e-infrastructure specification, organisation and coordination; Inventory/registration of data sources/providers and gap analysis; definition of requirements, guidelines and procedures for data modelling, transformation, integration and interoperability; data science; e-infrastructure implementation, operation and maintenance; mobilisation of biodiversity data; development and implementation of a national monitoring system for data on genetics, species and ecosystem diversity; data modelling for biodiversity and ecosystem research; policy and communication management; support for policy-making and management; dissemination of research results; advanced/technical training; and outreach, with a special focus on citizen science.
On an Iberian level, the IBERLife/IBERGRID initiative will match actions and eco-regions, unrestricted by political boundaries.
