Wildlife

The National Biodiversity Data Centre

Expanding our knowledge of wildlife in Ireland has always been one of the Heritage Council’s highest priorities. This led to the establishment of the National Biodiversity Data Centre which was launched officially in January 2007.
This important Heritage Council initiative will serve as a national repository for biological data. The National Biodiversity Data Centre will make good-quality and reliable data on Ireland’s biological diversity freely and universally available via the Internet.

Based at Waterford Institute of Technology, this Heritage Council initiative is funded by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre will work to make data on Ireland’s biological diversity available for the following specific uses:

• The implementation of international conventions and European directives
• Monitoring programmes
• Distribution mapping & modelling
• Publications
• Future scientific programmes
• Documentation of ecological and bio-geographical information.

The Centre has identified six strategic objectives for the next five years.

• Serve as a national repository for biological data. Make good-quality, reliable data on Ireland’s biological diversity freely and universally available via the Internet.
• Implement a programme of biological recording initiatives and biodiversity research, supported by a network of recorders and researchers, to improve our knowledge of Ireland’s biological diversity.
• Assist the establishment of a series of biological baselines and monitoring programmes to measure change to Ireland’s biological diversity.
• Facilitate and promote the use of biodiversity data to inform policy and decision-making in Ireland and the European Union.
• Promote training and professional development of the biological recording community in Ireland, and raise standards of data collection, management and presentation.
• Highlight the importance of the conservation of Ireland’s biological diversity for the benefit of society.

The long-term objective of the National Biodiversity Data Centre is to establish itself as a Centre of Research Excellence on Ireland’s flora and fauna.

Keep an eye on the Wildlife section for breaking news.
 
The National Biodiversity Data Centre
Beechfield House
WIT West Campus
Carriganore
Waterford

Phone: 051 306 240
Email: info@biodiversityireland.ie                                         Website: www.biodiversityireland.ie