Tag Archive for: ABOL coordination

Szucsich et al 2026

A decade of ABOL – new paper!

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Looking Back on a Decade of ABOL: Coordinating a National Biodiversity Initiative

How can a country’s biological diversity be systematically documented – and what does it take to turn a research initiative into a sustainable, long-term network?

Since 2014, the Austrian Barcode of Life (ABOL) Initiative has been dedicated to systematically documenting Austria’s animal, plant, and fungal diversity using DNA barcoding. Over the past decade, much more has developed than a repository of molecular genetic reference data: ABOL has evolved into a nationwide network connecting research, biological collections, protected areas, scientific societies, and citizen science.

In our new publication, Evolving ABOL (the Austrian Barcode of Life Initiative): Reflections on a Decade of Coordinating a National Biodiversity Initiative, we, the ABOL coordination team, take stock of the years 2014 to 2025.

The paper shows how ABOL has been established and further developed – from data infrastructures and reference data to new applications of DNA barcoding and participatory formats such as the ABOL BioBlitzes. At the same time, it highlights the importance of long-term collaboration across institutions and disciplines for comprehensive biodiversity documentation.

ABOL thus serves as an example of an integrative approach to biodiversity research: taxonomic expertise meets molecular methods, digital infrastructures, and public participation.

But the publication does not only look back. In view of the ongoing loss of biodiversity, it also asks what role ABOL can play in the future and in the long term in implementing national and international biodiversity targets.

Read the full article now and look back on ten years of ABOL:

Szucsich NU., Sonnleitner M, Ackerl F, Kargl V, Heinzl J, Hörweg C & Haring E (2026). Evolving ABOL (the Austrian Barcode of Life Initiative): Reflections on a Decade of Coordinating a National Biodiversity Initiative. Acta ZooBot Austria 162, 45–71.

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ABOL enters the next stage

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Dear ABOL Community

It is our pleasure to announce that the ABOL coordination is funded for another 3 years, so that we can continue to record the Austrian biodiversity and to support the biodiversity community in general.
The filling of the reference database is of course still the focus of our activities, but the application sector of DNA barcoding will play an increasingly important role. The ABOL BioBlitz campaigns will also be continued and expanded.
In times of a global biodiversity crisis, the national and international bundling of activities is of central importance. Global and European initiatives to record biodiversity are currently emerging, such as Lifeplan or BioScan Europe, in which ABOL is involved representing Austria. National networking plays an equally important role, because international cooperation requires strong national partners.
Since ABOL has no overall financing, the data production is carried out in many larger and smaller projects. We are always on the ball to develop funding channels and generate project ideas, but we rely on the help of the community. We hope and look forward to further successful cooperation.

The ABOL coordination team

Press release (in German only): https://www.nhm-wien.ac.at/presse/pressemitteilungen2021/abol

Species-rich meadow in the Upper Austrian Alpine forelands (c) ABOL
Collecting excursion in the Northern Limestone Alps (c) ABOL
Collection of Pannonian wild bees at the Natural History Museum Vienna (c) NHM
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ABOL Meeting 2017 – takeoff into the future

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Our this year´s annual meeting ABOL4 took place on October 20th, 2017 under a number of lucky stars! Firstly, good news from the Federal Ministry of Research, Science and Economy came just in time: The coordination of ABOL is going to be funded for the next three years! Thus, co-ordination of the numerous currently running projects, filling of the reference networking among research groups can go on, as well as the acquisition of new funds for DNA barcoding projects. Secondly, looking back at the pilot phase revealed that the vast majority of aims was achieved and even surpassed in many aspects. Thirdly, all contributions and discussions at the meeting were instructive and constructive, inducing all in all an optimistic mood.

Except for two public talks ABOL4 was held in English. We had the great pleasure to hear contributions from the growing number of international partners. The plenary lecture was given by Sujeevan Ratnasingham, chief architect of BOLD, the international DNA barcoding data base. We likewise could hear about the first achievements of CROBOL, our sister initiative in Croatia. Already from the start we have a fruitful cooperation, which hopefully will grow in the following years. Being held in English ABOL4 opened up also to international members of Austrian research institutes.

The meeting was restricted to a single day to avoid conflicts with simultaneously held events. During the preparation of the meeting we were confronted with the pending decision regarding the financing of the ABOL coordination. Fortunately, our optimistic way to look into the future payed off and four days before the meeting we received a positive decision.

We again want to acknowledge the back-up from the Natural History Museum of Vienna. Together with our sponsors, it allowed for planning this 4th annual meeting. Our main thanks goes to the 130 participants of the meeting. You were the brightest among all the good stars. Thanks for coming and we are looking forward to see you again soon!

 

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