UKOT Biodiversity data access project.
Project Aim
- To consider the options and opportunities for improved access
to OT ‘core’ biodiversity data by working with international
(including UK) organisations and OTs to identify and
address barriers to access where they exist
The project
Background Questionnaire.
- A Background
Questionnaire has been created to be completed by all
individuals/organisations who are interested in being involved in
the project.
Background and UK Policy Drivers
- The UK Government’s
2012 Overseas Territories White Paper ‘Security, Success and
Sustainability’ set out that Territory Governments are
constitutionally responsible for conserving biodiversity and for
developing appropriate, applicable and affordable environmental
policies, legislation and standards, with the UK Government
providing technical advice and expertise to enable the Territories
to meet their environmental obligations.
- It is widely recognised that lack of data
and/or lack of access to data is a challenge and one of the five
strategic priorities for the UK Government’s support for
biodiversity conservation in the Overseas Territories set out in
the
UK’s Overseas Territories Biodiversity strategy is focussed on
data i.e. obtaining data on the location and status of
biodiversity interests and the human activities affecting
biodiversity to inform the preparation of policies and management
plans (including baseline survey and subsequent
monitoring).
Overseas Territories context
Data gaps, data management and/or access to
data have been identified by OT personnel as an issue that needs to
be addressed. Recent examples of where this has been
highlighted include:
- In the 2013 review
of progress on the implementation of the UK Overseas
Territories Biodiversity Strategy, individual territories
highlighted their specific data management/access requirements this
included data availability and access.
- In the 2013
Falkland Islands environmental Mainstreaming report, one of the
key conclusions identified data, and data access as a high priority
action i.e. obtain key baseline data on the environment(e.g. on
where ecosystems / habitats are, and what ecosystem services they
provide);
- In 2014 an OT CITES meeting held
at Kew in London, management of data was seen as a key
requirement
- In the 2014 South Atlantic Overseas Territories Regional
Workshop held on Ascension Island, having well-managed data in
a system that was sustainable over a long period of time was a key
message.
What is already in place.
There are a number of initiatives that have been implemented at
either a territory level, or a cross territory level that attempt
to collect, collate and manage biodiversity data. Some of these
work efficiently and effectively, some face challenges, and others
are still to be initiated. Here are some examples:
- Territory based systems: Data management
systems have been effectively set up in a number of overseas
territories·
- Regional systems: A regional
system the (FCO-funded, JNCC-managed, SAERI-implemented)
South Atlantic Regional Information Management Centre is a
pilot project that is attempting to identify and address barriers
to data access in the South Atlantic Region. This includes training
and capacity building, staffing, establishing data management
protocols, research permits, purchasing hardware and software,
etc.
- Cross territory
systems: UK organisations have set up systems to manage
cross territory data for example
- British Antarctic
Survey – manages data for South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands
and the British Antarctic Territory.
- Royal Botanical Gardens Kew
uses its
in-house Brahms to manage Overseas Territories Plant data
- A recent project funded by the
UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and implemented by the
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) attempted to
compile
species lists for most of the UK’s OTs.
JNCC input into data management to date.
To date, JNCC has supported a
number of initiatives to support the development of data management
and data access in the UKOTs.