Written by Lizzy Arnold, NBN Data Project Officer
This year marks fifteen years since the National Biodiversity Network Trust was set up as an independent charity. In fact 25th August 2000 was the date when the NBN Trust was registered with the Charity Commission. Over the years the National Biodiversity Network has changed greatly as shown in the timeline and illustration below.
These images show how far the NBN has grown since 2000, with 2014 being a significant year as the 100 millionth species record was added to the NBN Gateway!
Making wildlife data open and accessible is central to everything the NBN values. The availability of wildlife data is essential for appreciating and understanding the importance of the UK’s biodiversity as well as contributing to informed decision making about nature and the environment. The NBN Gateway’s data has provided information for a great variety of projects over the years. The projects range from RSPB reserve management to an insight into the effect of climate change on species distribution. We will be bringing you more up to date information on how data have been and are being used, in the coming months.
As the data provided to the NBN Gateway and the number of data partners has grown significantly over time, so too has the number of members, with the current membership totalling 137. Why not become a member yourself?
Something else that has changed with the times is the face of NBN News! From inhouse design and print back in 2000, through to long leadtimes for external design and print for the quarterly newsletter in the mid to late 00's and now to our monthly electronic eNews. Here are a few examples of how times have changed…
We'll be updating our news format again in the coming months and we'd like your help in choosing a new name for it. It will still be an electronic newsletter, but if you can come up with something creative and more inspirational than “NBN News”, “NBN eNews” or “News from NBN”, we want to hear from you! Just drop the Comms team a line and let us have your suggestions before the end of October.
NBN on Social Media
Fifteen years ago, none of us could have known the impact that social media would have on our communications. News items that would have taken a few months to publish in print are now spread across the globe in seconds, using just a few characters of text to get the message across.
Over the last few months, we have really upped the ante on social media. We have been talking about being fifteen on Facebook and Twitter, in particular, as well as sharing news stories from our partners across the Network. So, remember to ‘follow’ us and ‘like’ us to ensure you get all the latest news and information and find out what's going on across the Network as it happens.
Thank you
The NBN is a partnership of organisations committed to sharing UK biodiversity data and we would like to thank everyone for their continued support and contribution to shaping the Network that exists today, we couldn't have done it without you. Here’s to the next fifteen years!