New wildlife recording system for Cairngorms National Park

New wildlife recording system for Cairngorms National Park
Anyone who has seen wildlife in the Cairngorms National Park is being encouraged to report it so a comprehensive record of all biological activity can be kept.
NESBReC (The North East Scotland Biological Records Centre, (www.nesbrec.org.uk) in conjunction with the Cairngorms National Park Authority (www.cairngorms.co.uk ) are establishing a biological recording system for the Cairngorms National Park.
NESBReC will act as a central point for information exchange where all species records for the Park will be collated and managed, and then submitted to the National Biodiversity Network where they will be accessible to the general public.
Project officer Dr Annie Robinson said: “We want to hear of any signs of flora and fauna, anything from lichens and fungi to vascular plants, insects, mammals and birds.
“We need to know what was seen, where it was seen, with an Ordnance Survey grid reference, who saw it and when they saw it.”
She added: “We are interested in all biological records whether from casual observations by interested individuals or detailed surveys commissioned by agencies. The more information we have the more comprehensive the records will be for the public to access.”
Stephen Corcoran, Cairngorms Biodiversity Officer said: “For the first time there will be a central depository for wildlife records in the Cairngorms and an organisation dedicated to the collection, verification and management of all wildlife information. The more people we have collecting wildlife records the more data we will have to use in determining trends in species population and distribution. Good biological data is essential to guide decision making in the allocation of project resources and in agreeing priorities, and local people and visitors can help by submitting any of their wildlife sightings.”
A series of free public talks where individuals or groups can find out about this new biological recording system for the Cairngorms National Park and how they can get involved will be held at:
- Edzell Inglis Memorial Hall on Monday March 30
- Kincraig Community Hall on Monday April 06
- Boat of Garten Village Hall on Tuesday April 07
- Pitlochry Town Hall on Tuesday April 14
- Ballater Albert Hall on Wednesday April 22.
All talks will start at 7pm.
Anyone with any biological record data for the Cairngorms National Park should send the information by email to [email protected] or phone 01224 273633 or go to the website www.nesbrec.org.uk.
The area covered is wider than the Cairngorms National Park and follows the boundary of the Cairngorms Local Biodiversity Action Plan. It includes the areas of the Angus Glens, Badenoch and Strathspey, Atholl and Glen Shee, Upper Deeside, Strathdon and Glenlivet.
Alert
Latest from the National Park
Update on wildfire situation
Convener Sandy Bremner and Chief Executive Grant Moir have given an update on the ongoing wildfire situation.
Statement on wildfires
An update from Grant Moir, Chief Executive of the Cairngorms National Park Authority, on the ongoing wildfires in Moray and Highland.
New Nethy houses get green light
Meeting in Ballater, the Planning Committee approved applications for a development of 35 houses in Nethy Bridge and a floodplain restoration scheme on the River Dee.
Relevant alerts
-
As a result of ongoing efforts to tackle wildfires to the north of the Cairngorms National Park, several roads are currently closed. Scottish Fire and Rescue are in attendance and the public are advised to avoid the area, including footpaths. Road users are asked not to ignore road closed signs.
The affected roads are:
- B9007 Ferness to Duthil
- U2379 Lochindorb Road
- B939 Ferness to Grantown-on-Spey
- U2347 Braes of Castle Grant
For all the latest information check out the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Police Scotland website and social media.