Africa Open Biodiversity Project
Africa Open Biodiversity Project is designed to promote the documentation of African biodiversity on Wikimedia projects such as Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons. The campaign aims to advocate and support current biodiversity conservation efforts while bridging the knowledge gap about African content on Wikimedia projects.
Background
editBiodiversity loss is a global concern, but it is particularly relevant in Africa, which is home to an incredibly diverse range of plant and animal species. The decline in Africa's biodiversity has significant implications for human well-being, as well as for the ecosystem services that support life on Earth.
Objective
editThe objective of the Africa Open Biodiversity Project is to promote the quality, reliability, and credibility of Wikipedia articles by documenting African biodiversity on Wikimedia projects. One of the ways the campaign hopes to achieve this goal is through a photography contest that will capture photographs/videos of plant and animal species on the African continent. These photographs could lead to the discovery of new species and help to improve Wikipedia articles where relevant and necessary.
Significance
editThe campaign is significant because it seeks to promote trustworthy and accurate information. By providing readily available pictures and videos to complement the text, the project would promote the credibility of African biodiversity on Wikipedia. Additionally, the project would add visualization to the biodiversity of the African continent, promoting the principles of Open Science in Africa.
