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Shropshire Ecological Data Network |
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Introduction The Ecological Data Network for Shropshire (SEDN) is an innovative type of Local Records Centre that we hope will provide a better quality of data at higher efficiency than a traditional type of LRC. SEDN trains naturalists to manage their own data to the highest standards, thus allowing us to pay field surveyors instead of data inputters. We also plan to train ecologists and conservationists in organisations such as Natural England and the county Wildlife Trust to manage data so we can largely do away with the need for a data outputter, too. These two roles - data inputting and data outputting - constitute much of the cost of a traditional LRC. They are, however, menial tasks. By training skilled naturalists and ecologists to do these simple tasks for themselves, we hope to divert money into skilled jobs that will, we hope, produce an overall better result and more high-quality work. SEDN is supported by Natural England, Shropshire Council, Shropshire Wildlife Trust, the University of Birmingham, the Field Studies Council and Whild Associates.
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The SEDN Process Our central aim is to provide people with the skills to perform data management tasks as part of their normal job. Whether you are a conservation officer with Natural England or an independent ecological consultant, or even an amateur naturalist, we want you to be able to provide and access ecological data for yourself. SEDN runs training courses and provides training materials for anyone who is interested in contributing. We also award contracts to individuals and organisations to supply us with data and/or perform analyses on data. For SEDN to work, we have to break the traditional model of carefully hoarded data that is inaccessible to the public. For that reason, our principle is that anything paid for from the public purse will be available to the public. All our data goes onto the National Biodiversity Network at full resolution - no tricks, just good quality records available to everyone. The data is also available via our own Natural Shropshire web site and, with maps and interpretation, from Shropshire Wildlife Trust. Plans for 2010-11 Administrative costs are £3k (£1k for Shropshire Council, £2k to Whild Associates).
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Training Tsars can receive training in the use of Mapmate and how to structure and provide records. We no longer provide training for the public. If you are interested in learning to run a records centre or collect and manage biological recording data, try the University of Birmingham, which runs a range of courses.
SEDN documents >> Outline contracts 2009
Achievements so far SEDN now has one of the most-used data sets on the National Biodiversity Network. It contains 140,000 records at full resolution, and it accounts for a substantial fraction (about a quarter, we think) of all hits on the NBN Gateway. The SEDN hub now contains over 400,000 records, which we will be uploading to the NBN in 2011.
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Contacts: >> To enquire about a training course or register an interest in bidding for a contract: Alex Lockton. >> To visit Natural Shropshire >> To find us on the National Biodiversity Network >> To make an LRC enquiry from the Shropshire Wildlife Trust
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