Curracag, the Outer Hebrides Natural History Society is a long established Group formed in 1978 to protect and enhance the Natural History of the Outer Isles. On 3 May there was an eruption of smiles as members of Curracag were informed that funding from the Outer Hebrides LEADER programme had been awarded to help establish a Biological Recording Project for the Outer Hebrides. Throughout the previous nine months this group had put together a feasibility study to establish that there was a demand for a biological records scheme, that it could be established and run economically and that the project was sustainable. More importantly they had persuaded Comhairle nan Eilean Siar (Western Isles Council) and the RSPB Scotland to help Curracag meet 50% of the costs.
The biological recording project will hold information on the variety, distribution and status of the animals and plants which can be found within a local area. This information helps us make informed decisions about land use and development, identify areas that require protection, create management plans for protected areas and monitor changes in the distribution and numbers of plants and animals. Local Government, non-government organisations, environmental agencies, developers and businesses all require accurate and detailed information about our flora and fauna to ensure that the way we manage and develop our land does not degrade our natural environment. We also have a responsibility to ensure that the quality and biodiversity of our landscape is maintained. Unless we know what we have, we won’t know what we might lose.
The quality and importance of the natural environment of the Outer Hebrides is recognised as outstanding and it is an integral part of economy, daily life and culture. There have been numerous studies and surveys of our wildlife by universities, conservation organisation, ecological consultants and individuals, but this information is widely dispersed and very difficult to access. So we need to be able to collate this data and provide a home for the records collected by local naturalists and visitors. The records will be made available through the NBN Gateway, the home of national biological records and accessible to everyone. So if you want to know whether a particular species is found in the Outer Hebrides you will be able to find out if it has been recorded and where.