Lajitietokeskus

Lajitietokeskus is a Finnish national center dedicated to taxonomic and species information. It functions as a national hub for collecting, validating, and sharing data about species and their distributions in Finland, while linking to international taxonomic resources. The center aims to improve the accessibility, reliability, and interoperability of biodiversity data for researchers, conservation authorities, educators, and the public.

Core activities include compiling taxonomic checklists and nomenclature, curating occurrence records, integrating museum and collection data, and maintaining distribution maps. It promotes data standards and interoperability in line with international norms such as the Darwin Core, and provides public access through national data services. Data are made available to researchers, educators, policymakers, and citizen scientists, supporting biodiversity monitoring, environmental assessments, and conservation planning.

Governance and collaboration: The center operates within Finland’s biodiversity information infrastructure and collaborates with Luomus (Finnish Museum of Natural History) as well as universities, museums, and research institutes. It relies on expert networks of taxonomists to validate identifications and nomenclature, ensuring data quality and provenance.

History and scope: Lajitietokeskus emerged from national efforts to digitize and unify species data, creating a centralized backbone for Finnish taxonomic information. It emphasizes open data, public engagement, and long-term data stewardship to support science and policy.

See also: Laji.fi and Luomus are related components of Finland’s biodiversity information infrastructure.