In pursuit of setting up a National Biodiversity Information System (NBIS), The Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources received technical assistance from the National Commission for Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity (CONABIO) from Mexico, a permanent interdepartmental commission created in 1992. Among the main functions of CONABIO is the implementation and operation of the National Information System on Biodiversity (NISB) for Mexico. 
Discussions initiated since April, 2012 with the Director of CONABIO at an Inter-governmental Platform for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) meeting in Panama resulted in CONABIO indicating its willingness to share information with Trinidad and Tobago on their experience in setting up the biodiversity information coordination and management system.
As a follow-up to this interaction, a training session for building capacity for a NBIS in support of the Biodiversity Clearing House of Trinidad and Tobago by technical staff from CONABIO took place on 11 - 15th November, 2013 at the Public Education Centre, WASA, St. Joseph, Trinidad and Tobago. 
Key elements of the session included; sensitising relevant stakeholders on the development of the NBIS, identification of data sources in Trinidad and Tobago and training participants in the use and manipulation of the CONABIO’S NBIS (referred to as BIOTICA) for the collating and management of local biodiversity data and information.
Stakeholders involved in training included; representatives from the EPPD; Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, Environmental Management Authority (EMA), Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), National Herbarium, CABI, University of the West Indies (UWI) Zoology Museum and Life Sciences Department, Ministry of Food Production’s Research, Horticulture and Fisheries Divisions and the Department of Agriculture, Marine Affairs and the Environment of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).
