Print edition: ISSN 2009-8537 Online edition: ISSN 2009-8545 The National Biodiversity Data Centre ANNUAL Review 2015 Ireland’s National Node The National Biodiversity Data Centre Annual Review 2015 Citation: Lysaght, L., Fitzpatrick, Ú., Murray, T., O’Flynn, C. & Walsh, M. (2016). National Biodiversity Data Centre – Annual Review 2015. National Biodiversity Data Centre, Waterford. Ireland. G.B.I.F. Ireland's National Node Contents Chairman’s statement .............................................................................................................................4 Introduction ................................................................................................................................................5 Building the bioinformatics infrastructure ....................................................................6 Data licensing ...........................................................................................................................7 Highlights of the work programme in 2015 ....................................................................................8 Strategic objective 1. Mobilising data ..............................................................................8 Strategic objective 2. Tracking change ..........................................................................16 Strategic objective 3. Informing decision-making .....................................................20 Strategic objective 4: Develop strategic partnerships ............................................. 26 Strategic objective 5: International collaboration .................................................... 28 Strategic objective 6: Communicating ..........................................................................30 Strategic objective 7: Strengthening the recording base ........................................ 32 Management Board ............................................................................................................................... 34 Staff & contract management ........................................................................................................... 34 Organisational chart ............................................................................................................................. 35 Financial Statement 2015 ................................................................................................................... 36 Recorders and partner organisations ............................................................................................. 38 3 4 Chairman’s Statement 2015 marked another highly productive This can be used by researchers and others engaged year for the the Data Centre, delivering in biodiversity investigations or monitoring to select significant actions across the seven sites that are representative of the environmental objectives outlined in its Strategic diversity of the island as a whole. It has been the Plan 2013-2017. I want to highlight basis for the design of the monitoring strategy for a few that illustrate the breadth and the Marsh Fritillary butterfly importance of activities undertaken in 2015. Data capture, visualisation As I have mentioned in previous years the functions and mobilisation remain a core and value of the Data Centre extend beyond that of objective and the Centre continued to a repository for biodiversity data. Its staff actively enhance its biodiversity bioinformatics engage with government and non-government infrastructure to improve both access bodies to improve the delivery of information and to data and online input of data by actions for biodiversity at national and international recorders. Thanks to the efforts of 58 level. One such collective effort in 2015, involving different data providers the biodiversity database 92 individuals across 19 organisations, enabled continued to grow in 2015 and reached 3.7 million the development of Ireland’s National Biodiversity records of 15,300 species at the end of the year. I would Indicators. These will be used as measures of action like to highlight and acknowledge the enormous and with respect to Ireland’s National Biodiversity Action valuable input of volunteer recorders, particularly Plan and the Aichi 2020 Biodiversity Targets, and those that engage in annual monitoring schemes. For to inform conservation policy. To date 50 indicators example the Centre’s butterfly monitoring scheme have been published on a dedicated website. The is now in its eight year and in 2015 its 116 volunteers Data Centre also played a key coordination role in recorded 39,100 butterflies representing 33 species. the development and publication of the All-Ireland This large 8-year dataset is now allowing us to Pollinator Plan 2015-2020 in September 2015. The statistically analyse trends in numbers of various plan was widely welcomed and endorsed, and also butterfly species, particularly those that may be received international recognition. in decline. Established in 2011 the All-Ireland Bumblebee Monitoring Scheme is also making a At a European level the Data Centre provided significant contribution given that 30% of species are advice and support for the implementation of a new under threat. In 2015 its 77 volunteers recorded 11,829 EU Regulation on invasive species [No 1143/2014] bumblebees across 16 species. Interestingly this is the that came into effect in January 2015. The Centre’s world’s first national bumblebee monitoring scheme. Invasive Species Officer, funded by the Department of 2015 also saw the delivery of an all-Ireland monitoring Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, is a member on the scheme for the endangered Marsh Fritillary butterfly European Commission’s Working Group on Invasive in collaboration with National Parks and Wildlife Alien Species. As you will read in this report the Service, Northern Ireland Environmental Agency and Data Centre also contributed data and information Butterfly Conservation Northern Ireland. A database to a number of European and global databases and of more than 7,100 records stretching back to 1982 initiatives. There is undoubtedly potential for other was compiled to identify sites for management and national and international partners to engage with monitoring. Of the 48 sites identified for monitoring the Data Centre and avail of the range of its shared- 32 were successfully covered in 2015. The Data Centre services for data provision and management. is always welcoming and supportive of new recorders and its programme of training workshops and field Finally, I would like to once again thank the Director meeting is contributing to upskilling citizen science. and staff of the Data Centre for their continued dedication, hard work and impressive achievements Biodiversity monitoring is undoubtedly time- in 2015, and the Management Board for their input consuming and it is often difficult to get adequate and support of the Data Centre. national coverage at a relevant scale. To enable more targeted and efficient monitoring design the Assoc. Prof. Mary Kelly-Quinn Data Centre produced a ‘Bioclimatic’ map in 2015 Chairman using meteorological and other environmental data. Introduction The National Biodiversity Data Centre is a national body that collects and manages data on Ireland’s biodiversity, to document Ireland’s wildlife resource and to track how it is changing over time. It was established by the Heritage Council in 2007 and is funded by the Heritage Council and the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. The Data Centre’s mission is: ‘....to provide national co-ordination and standards of biodiversity data and recording, assist the mainstreaming of biodiversity data and information into decision making, planning, conservation management and research, and encourage greater engagement by society in documenting and appreciating biodiversity.’ he Strategic Plan 2013-2017 sets out seven 4 Develop strategic partnerships: Support primary objectives to assist identification of and collaborate with the Data Centre’s Tpriorities and to guide its work programme. partners to assist efficient delivery of their objectives. The seven objectives are: 5 International collaboration: Facilitate the provision of Irish biodiversity data to 1 Mobilising data: Serve as a national hub international initiatives. for the storage, display and dissemination 6 Communicating: Communicate the value of biodiversity data through the online data of Ireland’s biological diversity and raise portal Biodiversity Maps. awareness of how it is changing. 2 Tracking change: Identify the need for, 7 Strengthening the recording base: support and assist the production of high quality, the recorder and citizen science network scientifically robust data to track changes in to increase the quantity and quality of Ireland’s species and habitats. biodiversity data generated in Ireland. 3 Informing decision-making: Facilitate and promote the use of biodiversity data to inform This Annual Review provides an overview of the public policy and decision-making through work of the Data Centre during 2015, highlights data analysis, interpretation and reporting. some of its main achievements during the year and shows how the different elements of the work of the Data Centre contribute to the objectives it has identified. The National Biodiversity Data Centre Strategic Plan 2013-2017 5 SQL SQL GIS 6 GIS Building theGBIF bioinformatics infrastructureSQL To achieveGBIF the seven strategic objectives identified in the Strategic Plan, the Data Centre