Dear Adastrans, You were a great source of support when Natural England decided to terminate funding agreements with local environmental record centres, in February last year. So I thought you might be interested to know that questions were raised on this subject yesterday in the Lords Select Committee on the Natural Environment & Rural Communities Act 2006<http://www.parliament.uk/business/committees/committees-a-z/lords-select/nerc-act-committee/>, following submission of written evidence on this subject from the Association of Local Environmental Record Centres (here<http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/natural-environment-and-rural-communities-act-2006-committee/natural-environment-and-rural-communities-act-2006/written/69933.html>) and other organisations.
Jo Judge, Chief Executive of the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) was an excellent advocate for local environmental record centres and Stephanie Wray, President of the Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management (CIEEM), also highlighted the importance of local biodiversity data collected by volunteers and amateurs. You can watch their evidence here: http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/408bcd7b-220e-4f2b-8144-2f0aa4f16eb1?in=12:15:17&out=12:18:45 Stephen Trotter, Director for England of The Wildlife Trusts, also highlighted the important work that local environmental record centres do, working with networks of volunteers. You can watch his evidence here: http://parliamentlive.tv/event/index/408bcd7b-220e-4f2b-8144-2f0aa4f16eb1?in=11:40:05&out=11:47:30 It's very encouraging for us here at Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre to know that this issue is being discussed at the highest levels. It's difficult to know at this stage what the outcome might be, but we will continue to advocate for using the best available biodiversity data and information to inform planning, policy and decision-making. And that includes all the high quality data that you - the Sussex biological recording community - choose to share with SxBRC. Thanks again for your support, it hasn't gone unnoticed. Clare Clare Blencowe BRC Manager Sussex Biodiversity Record Centre http://sxbrc.org.uk<http://sxbrc.org.uk/> | 01273 497521 ________________________________ Sussex Wildlife Trust is a company limited by guarantee under the Companies Act. Registered in England, Company No. 698851. Registered Charity No. 207005. VAT Registration No. 191 305969. Registered Office: Woods Mill, Henfield, West Sussex BN5 9SD. Telephone 01273 492630
