Between 2001-2004, Project Biomap gathered and digitized Colombian bird specimens from 87 collections across the world, with key collections being Instituto de Ciencias Naturales, National University (ICN, Bogotá), American Museum of Natural History (AMNH, New York), and The Natural History Museum (London). This data is available for who needs or wants to use or consult it in the BioMap web page and below lists the collections so far participating:
The specimen information is combined and updated periodically throughout 2003 to the “Darwin Database” and available on the Project BioMap web (www.biomap.net). Throughout the final year of the project in 2004, the Darwin Database will be analyzed using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) /WorldMap programs to model species distributions and to provide a powerful tool for conservation planning.
Project BioMap also undertakes a series of parallel activities in the digitization of collection specimens, for example a training workshop at ICN in January 2002. Also, BioMap supported and participated in the ‘II Training Course for observation, identification and techniques for the study of terrestrial birds’ that was conducted in the Sanctuary of Fauna and Flora of Otún-Quimbaya, organized by Fundación ProAves, and collaboration of the National Parks System, University of Antioquia, and SAO.
The course was very encouraging, with about 50 students and various professionals from different regions of Colombia participating, which gave a very special insight into a diversity of interests and backgrounds; some people had greater knowledge of birds than others who were beginners. In September 2002, BioMap organised the first National Ornithological Collections meeting, where 11 collections from across the country were represented. The meeting lasted 3 days and after analyzing the situation all the collections jointly decided to important conclusions, for example the need to start the National Bird Collection Network for inter-change and collaboration.