Background

 

 

Local records centres (LRCs) provide a focus for the collation, management and provision of local biological data. They are not-for-profit organisations, run as businesses and offering agreed levels of service to users. They ensure that the best possible information is made readily available to support decision-making processes to the ultimate benefit of both people and wildlife. LRCs should also provide support to the local volunteer recorders on whose records they and their users greatly depend.

 

The Welsh LRC Partnership was set up in 2002 under the chairmanship of the National Museum of Wales to provide a support network for all involved in LRC establishment and running in Wales, to share experiences and to work co-operatively towards the development of a full Welsh LRC network.

 

The National Biodiversity Network (NBN) aims to increase access to reliable biological information by making it readily available to all those who need it. It is a network of data custodians working to common standards. LRCs can achieve NBN accreditation by adopting these standards, which contribute substantially to quality assurance.

 

The Wales Biodiversity Group (WBG) brings together the key players from the public, private and voluntary sectors to promote, monitor and advise the National Assembly for Wales on action to maintain and enhance biodiversity in Wales. Sub groups of the WBG include the Wales Local Issues Advisory Group (WLIAG) and the Action Plans and Targets Group.

 

 

In Wales, there is one operational LRC covering Powys and the Brecon Beacons National Park. It was set up with help from the NBN as one of 3 pilot centres in the UK. It has been operational since November 2001, and provides substantial levels of service to Powys County Council and the National Park. It offers the Biodiversity Information Service (BIS) as its core product. Its original manager, Adam Rowe, is now Manager of the South East Wales Biodiversity Records Centre, which is making good progress in the Establishment Phase.

 

Development of the North Wales LRC is being facilitated by the North Wales Wildlife Trust.

 

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