RECOMMENDATION 23: COMMUNITY FUNDS TO SUPPORT VERIFIERS, RECORDERS & OUTREACH

A Community Fund should be established to facilitate the scaling up of public participation in biological recording to ease current pressure points and to encourage participation and equal access for all.

Funding should be focused upon delivery of strategic priorities (e.g. encouraging biological recording of under-recorded species or sites especially in remote areas, promoting biological recording for associated health benefits, developing taxonomic expertise in species of conservation priority or other strategic interest, and supporting the costs of equipping and running a recording group or school group).

A cross-sectoral stakeholder group such as SNH’s Scientific Advisory Committee, or the Scientific Support Group for the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, should be appointed to provide independent advice on the appropriate strategic priorities for Scotland each year.

The relevant National or Regional Committee should act as an Investment Committee to direct funding in accordance with these priorities.