National Biodiversity Data Centre

Created April 26, 2022, 3:12 p.m.

Updated April 26, 2022, 3:12 p.m.

In order to conserve Ireland’s biodiversity we need to document what biodiversity we have, understand how it is distributed across the island of Ireland and its marine waters, track how it is changing over time, and communicate the importance of conserving biodiversity. Addressing these knowledge gaps and building the scientific evidence base to help its conservation is
central to the work of the National Biodiversity Data Centre.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre (biodiversityireland.ie) was established by the Heritage Council in 2007 and is funded by the Heritage Council and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

The National Biodiversity Data Centre Works by:

Applying state-of-the-art information technology to manage data on Ireland’s biodiversity.
Providing expertise to increase our understanding of Ireland’s biodiversity.
Providing coordination to encourage greater collaboration between partners.
Communicating the evidence-base to inform decision-making.
Supporting partner organisations by offering shared-services and other resources.
Building capacity by provision of biodiversity training and training resources.
Providing leadership to promote the conservation of biological diversity.

Key objectives of the National Biodiversity Data Centre

Mobilising data: We serve as the national hub for the collation, storage, and dissemination of biodiversity data.
Informing decision-making: We facilitate and promote the use of biodiversity data to inform public policy and decision-making through analysis, interpretation and reporting.
International collaboration: We serve as Ireland’s Node of the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF), ensuring that Irish data contribute to the more than 2 billion biodiversity records published through the GBIF data portal.
Tracking change: We work to identify needs for, and coordinate the collection of, high quality, scientifically robust data to track changes in Ireland’s species and habitats.
Developing strategic partnerships: Supporting and collaborating with our partners is a key aim.
Communicating: We communicate the value of Ireland’s biodiversity and raises awareness of how it is changing.
Strengthening the recorder base: Through its training programmes, the Data Centre is supporting the recorder and citizen science network to increase the quantity and quality of biodiversity data generated in Ireland.