Data Committee

The BLS database is a resource of inestimable value to the Society in its objectives of promoting the study of lichens and their conservation. It now holds in excess of 1 million records, stored by site and date. These have been made available for public use on the National Biodiversity Network Gateway ..

To marshall such a vast amount of information requires a disciplined approach – a task overseen by the Data Committee. The Committee’s other responsibilities include negotiations with the National Biodiversity Network; liaising with bodies which wish to use the database, and making the records and associated data available to the members of the Society.

Data about British lichens and where they occur is needed for the work of the Conservation and Education Committees, so we liaise closely with them and the Members’ Services Committee.

The Data Committee includes the Data Manager , Mapping Recorder, and the chairs of the Conservation, Education and Promotion, and Members’ Services Committees. The Committee meets three times a year and reports to Council and the AGM.