Introducing the National Biodiversity

Data CentreIreland’s biodiversity is under threat. Like elsewhere in the world, biodiversty loss is depriving future generations of its intrinsic and

monetary value. International conventions, nature protection legislation and national initiatives have been supported by the Irish government to

address biodiversity loss and improve the quality of life of its citizens. The National Biodiversity Data Centre is one such initiative.

Why is biodiversity important?Ireland’s biodiversity is unique and precious.

It is part of what makes Ireland special and

has intrinsic value. It also contributes at least

€2.6 billion each year to the Irish

economy through the ecosystem services

it provides.

What do we need to know?In order to conserve Ireland’s biodiversity we need to document what biodiversity we have, understand how it is distributed across the island of Ireland and its marine waters, track how it is changing over time, and communicate the importance of conserving biodiversity.

Addressing these knowledge gaps and building the scientific evidence base to help its conservation is central to the work of the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

How the National Biodiversity Data Centre works

Ģ We apply state-of-the-art information technology to manage data on Ireland’s biodiversity.

Ģ We provide expertise to increase our understanding of Ireland’s biodiversity.

Ģ We provide coordination to encourage greater collaboration between partners.

Ģ We communicate the evidence-base to inform decision-making.

Ģ We support partner organisations by offering shared-services and other resources.

Ģ We build capacity by provision of biodiversity training and training resources.

Ģ We provide leadership to promote the conservation of biological diversity.

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Key objectives of the National Biodiversity Data Centre:

1 | Mobilising dataThe National Biodiversity Data Centre serves as the national hub for the collation, storage, and dissemination of biodiversity data

Ģ Biodiversity Maps is a national portal that compiles biodiversity data from multiple sources and makes it freely available online.

Ģ Serves as a growing repository of more than 4 million species occurrence records of over 16,000 species

2 | Informing decision-makingThe National Biodiversity Data Centre facilitates and promotes the use of biodiversity data to inform public policy and decision-making through analysis, interpretation and reporting.

Ģ Supports reporting responsibilities under international conventions and legislation.

Ģ Provides evidence to support conservation management at local and regional levels Ģ Continued development of Ireland’s National Biodiversity Indicators.

3 | International collaborationThe National Biodiversity Data Centre serves as Ireland’s Node of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), ensuring that Irish data contribute to the more than 1 billion biodiversity records published through the GBIF data portal. Data are also provided to other international initiatives dealing with Invasive Alien Species, Crop Wild Relatives, European Vegetation Studies, pan-European butterfly research and European distribution atlases.

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4 | Tracking changeThe National Biodiversity Data Centre works to identify needs for, and coordinate the collection of, high quality, scientifically robust data to track changes in Ireland’s species and habitats.

Ģ The butterfly and bumblebee monitoring schemes have helped shed light on population changes since 2008.

Ģ Open data contributes to Red List assessments of Ireland’s wildlife.

Ģ Tracking and cataloguing invasive species.

5 | Developing strategic partnershipsSupporting and collaborating with our partners is a key aim.

Ģ Provision of state-of-the-art information systems for public and private sectors through shared services.

Ģ Providing the record management needs for NGOs through provision of bespoke recording forms, designing and hosting of websites.

Ģ Provision of data to third-level institutes for collaborative research projects.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is responsible for implementation of the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan, which involves over 80 partner organisations acting together to conserve Ireland’s pollinators

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20+Training workshops annually

3,000workshop participants trained since 2009

3,000people submitting records annually

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6 | CommunicatingThe National Biodiversity Data Centre communicates the value of Ireland’s biodiversity and raises awareness of how it is changing.

Visit our website to access our recording and mapping systems, project information, species profiles, latest news and events. High-

quality field guides have been produced on Irish mammals, butterflies, dragonflies, shieldbugs, grasses, and trees, to name a few. Our newsletter, Biodiversity Ireland, which includes updates on Ireland’s biodiversity, project news

and feature articles, can be freely downloaded from our website twice a year.

7 | Strengthening the recorder baseThrough its training programmes, the Data Centre is supporting the recorder and citizen science network to increase the quantity and quality of biodiversity data generated in Ireland.

Social media – follow, like, click, share. Find us online!

facebook-square Biodiversity Ireland twitter-square @BioDataCentre

Record Ireland’s biodiversitySubmit your own sightings. Manage your own records

Ireland’s Citizen Science Portal provides a facility for recorders to submit and store their biodiversity sightings online. The system gives greater visibility to recording activity across Ireland, while at the same time making data available to feed directly into outputs such as Red Lists and conservation management initiatives in Ireland.

Recording sightings of Ireland’s biodiversity has never been easier. Here are five steps to you can follow to make your own submission:

1 Go to the National Biodiversity Data Centre’s Citizen Science Portal via the main website, or: https://records.biodiversityireland.ie

‘Biodiversity Data Capture’ Is a free mobile app that offers you an alternative to the portal for recording Ireland’s biodiversity

http://www.biodiversityireland.ie/downloads/apps/

The National Biodiversity Data Centre, Beechfield House, WIT West Campus, Carriganore, Waterford. phone-square 051 306240envelope info@biodiversityireland.ieglobe www.biodiversityireland.ie facebook-square Biodiversity Irelandtwitter-square @BioDataCentre

The National Biodiversity Data Centre is an initiative of the Heritage Council and is operated under a service level agreement by Compass

Informatics. The Centre is funded by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre

stores records for over half of Ireland’s 31,500 species – help us document

Ireland’s wildlife!

4 Fill out your sample and observation details

5 Save your record

2 Hit ‘go’ to start your recording

3 Pick which recording form you would like to record from