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Shropshire Ecological Data Network - the ideal model for biological recording |
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Introduction The Ecological Data Network for Shropshire (SEDN) is an innovative type of Local Records Centre that provides better quality data at higher efficiency than a traditional type of LRC. SEDN trains voluntary naturalists to manage their own data to the highest standards, thus allowing us to pay field surveyors instead of data inputters. We also 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 awards 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 or complicated provisos, 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 2011-12 Administrative costs for the year are £4k (£2k each for Shropshire Council and Whild Associates).
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Training ‘Tsars’ are the people who provide records to SEDN. They are often but not necessarily County Recorders. They 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 418,000 records (up from 218,000 in 2010) at full resolution, and it accounts for a substantial fraction of all hits on the NBN Gateway. The total budget of SEDN to date has been £47,000 over 3 years.
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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 >> If you are interested in establishing an Ecological Data Network in your county, contact Alex Lockton. The total cost is about £15,000 per annum. Councils, Wildlife Trusts and Government Agencies also have to be prepared to train their own staff in simple data management (Excel) to be able to fulfil the other functions of an LRC. |