Bioclimatic Network of Merida State, Venezuela: Environmental data retrieval, handling and preservation strategies

This paper presents the experience accumulated in the. construction and development of the Bioclimatic Network of the Merida State (Venezuela) as a test of concepts in the use of techniques and strategies for the retrieval, handling and preservation data from e-research. The ethical, conceptual and technical aspects involved in the preservation of the data are described, with emphasis on the concepts of open data and metadata, and their standards. The construction of the bioclimatic data repository at www.cecalc.ula.ve/redbc/ is reviewed, as well as its associated information products and some preliminary results and impacts of its utilization. Finally, some reflections and recommendations are made that will, perhaps, allow the maintenance and replication of this initiative.