This Working Group will influence many of the other groups as the inventory is central to online recording, data flows and verification.

This Working Group

Around 70,000 species of animals, plants, fungi and single-celled organisms are found in the UK.

The Natural History Museum, in partnership with the NBN and in collaboration with a wide network of both professional and amateur taxonomists – all experts in their fields, is working on bringing all of the standard reference names for all species of flora and fauna in the UK, together in one place.

The UK Species Inventory is formed by gathering species names from comprehensive and authoritative checklists compiled by government agencies, scientific experts and conservation organisation.

This working group will be led by the Natural History Museum in partnership with all organisations that expressed an interest in the development of a future strategy for the UK Species Inventory to develop a long-term strategy for this important register. It will comprise representatives from a range of organisations – both partners who use the data and contributors who provide the taxonomic expertise. It will work out how best to serve their needs and provide a platform that allows anyone to examine the live data and for registered experts to suggest amendments to it as and when they need new names or taxa. This work will influence many of the other working groups as the inventory is central to online recording, data flows and verification.

Group Focus

This group will focus on developing a strategic approach to maintain the UK Species Inventory as the primary organisms register in the UK.  

It will address the following strategic points:

  • 1A.10 (“Develop a strategic approach to maintain the UK Species Inventory as the primary organisms register in the UK”)
  • 1C (all) (“Ensure rapid flow (‘time to market’) of biological data from recorders to users”)
  • 2.1 (“Regularly assess data user needs and continuously improve the user interfaces of NBN products”).
  • 2.2 (“Ensure NBN Trust systems meet the business needs and requirements of key user groups”)
  • 4 (all) (“Provide the best biological information management infrastructure”).