A new review of research from the Biological Records Centre (BRC) highlights the vital role of biological recording and national monitoring schemes and taxonomic societies in helping scientists understand how Britain's wildlife is changing. The review is also being released alongside a new Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) hosted portal that will help users explore the data collected by biological recording, which BRC help to mobilise.
Drawing on over 144 million species records collected by volunteer recorders, recording schemes and citizen scientists, the review showcases how biodiversity data have transformed our understanding of the natural world over the past decade. From tracking shifts in species distributions to informing national biodiversity indicators, the research demonstrates the growing importance of citizen science for long-term monitoring in addressing environmental challenges.
Building a picture of change
The evidence reveals a complex picture of biodiversity change. While many species have experienced declines, others have expanded their ranges or benefited from environmental improvements. The records provide detailed insights into the impacts of climate change and pressures from land use.
Biological records are also helping researchers identify emerging threats. Data collected by volunteers have supported studies of invasive species, disease risks and range-expanding insect pests, providing early warnings that can help guide management and policy responses.
Exploring the available data
Data from national schemes for diverse taxonomic groups, including a variety of invertebrate groups, lichen, plants and bryophytes, are already made available on the NBN Atlas, which subsequently flow to the GBIF. The hosted portal aims to be complementary to these existing platforms by providing easy access to visual and descriptive summaries of the data for user-defined subsets, as well as by providing background information that is relevant for data quality and information on how the data should be cited.
Supporting conservation decisions
The review demonstrates the value of biological recording for conservation planning and environmental decision-making. Species records have underpinned Red List assessments, informed the designation of important sites for nature, and contributed to national indicators used to measure progress towards biodiversity and nature recovery targets.
Citizen science at unprecedented scale
A recurring theme throughout the review, and shown by the data in the portal, is the growing contribution of citizen science. Digital recording tools such as iRecord have enabled more people than ever before to contribute wildlife observations, leading to significant growth in the volume and both taxonomic and geographic coverage of records.
Informing conservation and nature recovery
The publication also highlights the importance of long-term datasets. In some cases, records stretching back decades are allowing scientists to track environmental change over extended periods, revealing trends that would otherwise remain hidden. These records provide a detailed picture of changes in Britain's landscapes, woodlands and wildlife, creating an invaluable resource for future research, policy development and conservation action.
Looking to the future
Looking ahead, the review points to new opportunities created by advances in technology, including artificial intelligence, automated monitoring and environmental DNA (eDNA). Combined with the continued commitment of volunteer recorders, these innovations are expected to further strengthen the UK's ability to monitor biodiversity and respond to environmental change.
Overall, the review demonstrates that biological recording is far more than a record of where species occur. It provides the evidence needed to understand how nature is changing, evaluate the effectiveness of conservation action, and support efforts to restore biodiversity in a rapidly changing world.
Read the Biological Records Centre Science Review.
About the Biological Records Centre
The Biological Records Centre (BRC) has spent more than 60 years supporting biological recording, working with 110 recording schemes and societies. Today, millions of observations collected by volunteers underpin research, conservation and policy across the UK.
The BRC is supported by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), a not-for-profit research institute which receives support from Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) as part of the NC for UK Challenges programme delivering National Capability.
The work of BRC is a major component of the National Biodiversity Network (NBN).
