Local Record Centres

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Local Record Centres  

 Local Record Centres (LRCs) collate and manage species data on behalf of voluntary recording groups and individuals for a geographical area and make it available to biodiversity decision makers.  They also act as a focal point for the collation of habitat data collected by various organisations.  LRCs seek to: 

  • Ensure that biodiversity information is fed into the decision-making process at an appropriate stage.
  • Provide efficient, high quality information services to a range of users from public bodies to commercial consultants.
  • Pro-actively encourage the recording and sharing of biological data and engage in initiatives to develop biological recording skills.
  • Provide appropriate support to strengthen networks of local voluntary recorders and ensure that the efforts of voluntary recorders are consistently recognised.
  • Improve data flows by implementing and promoting simple and efficient systems for record submission, validation and verification.
  • Improve links with the National Biodiversity Network (NBN), including greater data sharing with the NBN Gateway.
  • Share best practice and expertise.
  • Ensure compatibility of data management systems.
  • Ensure that the role of managing and disseminating biodiversity information is valued and sustained through local and national partnerships.
  • Achieve commitment to stable and secure funding for LRCs

 

LRC Web Sites

 

National Biodiversity Network

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN), is making as much of the information as possible available to everyone who needs it through its website known as the NBN Gateway.  The NBN Gateway quite simply acts as a “data warehouse” for biodiversity information, which can be quickly and easily accessed to understand the distribution of particular species in the UK. Individual records, covering plants, mammals, birds and invertebrates, are stored on the NBN Gateway and these can then be displayed on a map of the UK in a number of different ways. 

 

Defra Innovation Project

As part of it’s responsibilities in respect of environmental data, Natural England has been appointed to administer the Defra Fund for Innovation in Local Biodiversity recording.  This fund has the objectives of developing the national network for local biological recording and increasing geographic scope, quantity and quality of biological information to the general public and key public sectors through the National Biodiversity Network Gateway.  The West Midlands region was selected as one of two regions for the initla phose of this work.  ADAS was selected to undertake the work in the first year and a copy of their report is available here.

The conclusions of this study were

  • Greater regional capability is required for LRCs to maximise service provision and funding opportunities.
  • The existing strengths of LRCs in respect of local users should be preserved.
  • Capacity for greater regional working can be accommodated within the existing LRC structure.
  • Regional working provides an opportunity to improve service to all users, not just regional users.
  • Regional working provides an opportunity to close gaps in data acquisition.
  • There are considerable opportunities for streamlining standard services offered by LRCs, so that outputs can be delivered more efficiently. Research completed in other regions can be used to guide this.
  • Local Record Centre day rates for chargeable project work should remain similar to existing levels relative to inflation.
  • Core funding levels from existing funders are unlikely to increase.
  • Local authority users may be prepared to pay extra for pre-analysed data, of for example BAP habitat inventories.
  • Greater Environment Agency funding may be available if case for this is made at a regional basis.
  • NBN poses a threat to LRC funding but parallel systems operating in competition with each other is not sustainable long-term.
  • Natural England should encourage engagement with NBN through providing greater incentive for partnership working.
  • Paper datasets are a significant restriction on data access and a strategy for identifying which should have the highest priority for digitisation should be developed.

The project has been extended this year and the proposed work for this second phase is outline in the document that can be downloded here.

 

Regonal LRC reports.

Regional Networking of Local Recod Centres

BEA Species Contribution Analysis