The BGIS website offers free and comprehensive spatial biodiversity datasets and tools to support decision-making, research, policy formulation and biodiversity monitoring.

BGIS training is relevant for people needing to access spatial biodiversity information on the BGIS website such as planners, environmental consultants, conservation managers and researchers.  It is not a general introduction to GIS and it is expected that participants have a basic working knowledge of GIS concepts and application.

The BGIS training sessions are led by Sediqa Khatieb, Fahiema Daniels and Fhatani Ranwashe from SANBI. Each training session starts with an introduction to Biodiversity Planning and a Google Earth exercise. This is followed by an introduction to the BGIS interactive mapping tools, the Land Use Decision Support (LUDS) tool and practical exercises.

The following training resources are available for download:

• Introduction to biodiversity planning – a presentation by F Daniels (part 1 & part 2).
• Biodiversity GIS (BGIS) interactive mapping user guide.
• Land Use Decision Support (LUDS) user guide – June 2014.
• Recent changes to the BGIS website (December 2013) – a presentation by Sediqa Khatieb.
• Instructions for downloading pdf descriptions of each vegetation type in South Africa (June 2014)
• BGIS practical exercises – August 2013.

Feedback regarding the BGIS website and the training is appreciated, and should be sent to bgishelp@sanbi.org.za.