The Information Division of National Chemical Laboratory in Pune in India has recently announced the creation of an Open Access Geospatial Data Repository (OAGDR). The creation of this repository came from a need to request community support for conserving biodiversity. India hosts two of the largest biodiversity hotspots of the world – the Western Ghats and the eastern Himalayas. These two hotspots contain numerous species that are indigenous and need to be protected. Towards this goal, it is important to have a geospatial infrastructure. The geospatial infrastructure is important for conservation, planning and policy making. Since this is a community driven exercise, the data belongs to the community. And it is for this reason we refer to it as Open Access.
