The initial 2-year Better Biodiversity Data (BBD) project was delivered between 2023 – 2025.

It supported the ambitions of the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, by securing access to the data needed to set targets and measure progress. A key ambition of the BBD project was to ensure that terrestrial, marine and freshwater dataflows in Scotland are clear and biodiversity data is accessible across all spheres.

The project also addressed some of the key recommendations set out in the 2018 Scottish Biodiversity Information Forum (SBIF) Review, as well as those made in the 2022 Scottish Marine Biodiversity Data (SMBD) review. The BBD team worked alongside the SBIF advisory group and other key partners through the BBD Project Group.

Supported by NatureScot and the Scottish Government, BBD addressed three objectives for:

i) A nationwide partnership providing biodiversity data services on behalf of Scotland

ii) A fit-for-purpose Data Management and Digital Services System, providing financially sustainable value-added services to users, and

iii) A well connected and functional biodiversity data community and infrastructure in Scotland, following FAIR and Open Data principles, across all sectors.  

Read the BBD project Output Report 

Bass Rock c. Emily Baker