The Global Mountain Biodiversity Assessment (GMBA) is a cross-cutting network of DIVERSITAS with the task to explore and explain the great biological richness of the mountains of the world.

GMBA acts as a platform of the international mountain biodiversity research. It aims to synthesise often fragmented knowledge, organize workshops/symposia and promote participation in international research projects. It holds a database on mountain biodiversity experts, and is maintaining a communication platform on global mountain biodiversity issues. The GMBA website (www.gmba.unibas.ch) is an important tool to inform and link mountain biodiversity researchers.

Main products will include:

· Global mountain biodiversity data portal and promotion of open access of geo-referenced mountain biodiversity data, in collaboration with GBIF;

· publication of a synthesis book on mountain biodiversity data mining and results of comparative data-mining of GMBA data expert;

· organisation of the 2nd GMBA open science conference on mountain biodiversity in 2010. This will be the 10-year anniversary of GMBA under Swiss leadership.