Building Capacity in Data Providers: Invertebrate Recorders of the Future (FSC BioLinks Project, UK)
About this good practice
The FSC BioLinks project aims to improve the record holdings of a selection of difficult-to-identify under-recorded invertebrate taxa in both the short & long terms by providing a range of ID training courses & recording events. These are designed to improve recorder knowledge/skill/motivation/confidence & form part of a single structured training plan, providing learning opportunities for new & invertebrate recorders–at all competency levels.
Project activities are open to all (though has a targeted approach to attracting young adults age 18-25 to ensure that the generational skills gap in field & ID skills is addressed). This includes measures such as utilising a range of social media platforms & their targeted advertising features, as well as ensuring that the career value of acquiring field & identification skills is showcased.
100+ training courses/events will be delivered across the West Midlands & South East, per year, in partnership with various existing recording schemes, env education centres, Local Environmental Record Centres, natural history societies - with the aim of integrating into existing networks.
Expert opinion
European biodiversity has been declining, which poses an immediate threat to human life. To address the issue, the European Union has published the EU Biodiversity Strategy 2030. Invertebrates provide us with many useful ecosystem services, like pollination and decomposition, which we cannot survive without but their numbers are declining. Few people know how to identify or recordinvertebrates, which results in a lack of data. Therefore, conservationists are struggling to fully understand where, when, how or why invertebrates are declining. The project provided learning opportunities to help people develop their invertebrate identification and recording skills. The project subsidised training courses, learning opportunities and digital tools focussed on invertebrate identification for anyone involved or interested in biological recording. The outcomes will help efforts in biodiversity conservation.
Resources needed
• 1.23 million GBP HLF Grant
• 40,000 GBP Esme Fairbairn grant
• 120,000 GBP FSC funds
• 210,000 non-cash contributions (including volunteer time).
Evidence of success
At the end of year 1, the project has already exceeded participant targets, with courses proving popular & participants already beginning to undertake species recording of the project focus species.
Potential for learning or transfer
Successes and challenges will be presented at sector conferences and through publishing of a variety of guidance. 2 documents from the consultation phase are already publicly available (i) FSC BioLinks Consultation Report (ii) FSC BioLinks Development Plan For Training Provision. Furthermore, the project has collated & published previous FSC Biodiversity project evaluation reports on it's website in order to share learning from the projects that preceded & informed the current project.
The FSC BioLinks project is a developmental project & methods/products will evolve, culminating in a Legacy & Resilience Conferenc
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Field Studies Council