Following recent work by the Scottish Biodiversity Information Forum (SBIF) Steering Group to improve alignment between SBIF, Biological Recording in Scotland (BRISC) and the NBN, some changes are being made to establish an effective biodiversity data infrastructure in Scotland.
Why make a change?
Many of you will already be aware that navigating the different organisations with a biodiversity remit has become more difficult while the need for an effective biodiversity data infrastructure has grown. The funding and sustainability of such an infrastructure is also an increasing challenge in this time of decreasing public spending. With this in mind, SBIF, BRISC and NBN have sought to improve their alignment, and to this end, in November 2015, a range of options were proposed (from no change through to more significant change) to develop our thinking.
Recommendations
Following further discussion, the SBIF Executive Group made three recommendations. These have since been welcomed and endorsed by the SBIF Steering Group, the NBN’s Board of Trustees and the BRISC Committee. The three recommendations are:
- that SBIF and NBN are united so that there is a single body governing the biodiversity data infrastructure and the Data Flow Pathway. To honour the original Public Petition which brought SBIF into existence, it is proposed that the SBIF Steering Group continues as an Advisory Group to the NBN in Scotland (to be known as the SBIF Advisory Group) to support and facilitate the NBN and the Data Flow Pathway.
- that the SBIF Coordinator role held by Christine Johnston is transferred to be managed and hosted directly by the NBN to act as their Scottish Liaison Officer thereby maximising the capacity of the NBN in Scotland.
- that, following implementation of Recommendations 1 and 2, the SBIF Advisory Group should focus on two matters:
- driving a review and redesign of the Local Environmental Record Centre (LERC) and recording group network with a view to realigning the network (subject to stakeholder consultation).
- facilitating the Data Flow Pathway in Scotland so that the envisaged biodiversity infrastructure is highly effective.
Next steps
From the 1st April 2016, Christine Johnston will be known as the NBN Scottish Liaison Officer, which will be a full-time position, and she will continue to work on behalf of all of SBIF’s supporters. We hope that all existing supporters of SBIF will continue to be interested and involved in the work of SBIF and the NBN in the future. We will ensure ongoing communications as the work outlined above in Recommendation 3 is taken forward.
In addition we will be developing a Memorandum of Understanding between SBIF/NBN and BRISC so that there is clarity regarding the different roles which are undertaken in the promotion of an effective biodiversity data infrastructure.
Contacts
If you have any queries or concerns please contact Ellen Wilson, SBIF Chair.
You can contact Christine Johnston by email at c.johnston@nbn.org.uk