Highland naturalists lead the way despite coronavirus crisis
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
An analysis of wildlife records across Britain has shown the importance of recording by Highland Biological Recording Group (HBRG).
A holiday company has commissioned an analysis showing what species have been recorded in all local authorities across the country, with 16,273 distinct types of plants, animals, fungi and micro-organisms recorded in Highland - 2052 more than second-placed Gwynedd in Wales.
It's largely due to the efforts of a small, but enthusiastic, group of naturalists in the HBRG, who are among the most active in the whole of the country.
All their data is available through the NBN atlas, which allows public access to wildlife observations across Britain, and is used by scientists, naturalists, students, developers and government agencies.
Indeed, HBRG has now contributed around 250,000 records to the national database, a testament to the skills and effort of amateur naturalists in the demanding environment of the Highlands. HBRG works with two similar neighbouring voluntary groups, ABRec (covering Argyll and Bute) and OHBR (covering the Western Isles) to document nearly half of Scotland’s land mass.
Together they record not only what is already present but also the spread of recent newcomers to the area, such as the saxon wasp and the tree bumblebee.
While current restrictions are limiting recreation in the countryside, this has not stopped local naturalists, although they are now concentrating on recording closer to home.
Murdo Macdonald, the HBRG database manager, said: “The Highlands offer a huge opportunity for anyone interested in wildlife to make new and exciting discoveries, sometimes in their own back gardens. Even in the current difficult times, valuable data can be gathered, often without even leaving the house. Visit our website to find out how you can help.”
Stephen Moran, chairman of HBRG, said: “It’s great to see how much use people are making of our data. We’re grateful for the funding that the three groups have received from SNH since 2004, which has enabled us to make this rich information source available to everyone”.
Click to see the biodiversity map
