In order to inform decisions on where to focus conservation action for wildlife and implement the laws designed to protect biodiversity, good quality biological information is vital. How can we know if a species really is rare or threatened, if we don’t have an accurate picture of where they are and how their population or range is changing over time? Today’s common species may be tomorrow’s rare species; we won’t know it’s happening and won’t be able to help, if we don’t know where they are.
Over the last few decades, a network of Local Biological Records Centres have been developed across the UK with the aim of collecting, collating, storing and sharing biological information. This information is made available to conservation organisations, academics, local naturalists, the general public as well as local authorities, planners and industry.
Through Local Records Centres everyone can help to safeguard their local wildlife simply by contributing records of the wildlife they see. In this electronic age, it has never been easier to get involved with recording and never fear, whatever your interest you can guarantee someone wants to know!
Click here for information on our region’s local records centre.