Since its establishment in 2016, Father Saturnino Urios University's Biodiversity Informatics and Research Center (BIRC) has actively pursued a range of capability-building research initiatives. The research activities encompass training workshops and experiential learning mentoring programs that focus on exploring the sustainable documentation, digitization, and management of open-access, primary, research-grade biodiversity data from the Caraga Region in Mindanao, Philippines. This collection hosts the outputs and outcomes of the FSUU-BIRC research initiatives. 

The collection is open to submissions from the faculty, staff, and students of Father Saturnino Urios University and surrounding higher education and research institutions in the Caraga Region. The heart of this collection lies in both classic and modern approaches in field- and collections-based research. By embracing established and contemporary approaches, this collection aims to present a picture of ongoing biodiversity research and digitization efforts in the region. By examining these efforts, the collection explores how they contribute to broader national activities in biodiversity research and data management across the Philippines, fostering collaboration and enhancing the country’s scientific resources.