The I3N develops tools for collecting and managing invasive species information in accordance with I3N standards. I3N Lead organizations are encouraged to use these tools to create national catalogs of invasive species profiles, datasets, projects, and experts.

The foundation tool is the I3N Database on Invasive Alien Species template. (Click on the picture below to see a larger version.)

This Microsoft Access based database template is freely available to use for collecting information on invasive species taxonomy and description, introduction pathways, characteristics, impacts, control methods, occurrences, contacts, projects, and references. The database also allows users to export their data in Extensible Markup Language (XML) report files. These report files are standardized according to the I3N XML schemas for metadata and data on contacts, projects, detailed species reports , and short species reports. The XML report files you create using the I3N Database can then be harvested and served on the Internet through participant Web sites or using the I3N Web Templates (currently under development). This I3N Database on Invasive Alien Species template and user guide is available in Spanish, Portuguese, and English.

Other tools at the disposal of I3N participants are describe here.

To obtain a copy of the database, go to http://www.institutohorus.org.br/pr_basei3n_eng.htm (English) or http://www.institutohorus.org.br/pr_basei3n.htm (Portuguese), or contact one of the I3N Tools Representatives:

Dr. Silvia Ziller Director, Instituto Horus, Tel: (55-41) 3253-0886, E-mail: sziller@institutohorus.org.br

Dr. Sergio Zalba, Grupo de Estudios en Conservación y Manejo (GEKKO), Tel: (54-291) 459-5101 Ext. 2420, Fax: (54-291) 459-5130, E-mail: szalba@criba.edu.ar