Biodiversity gives many opportunities for environmental education, opportunities for scientific study and discovery and helps monitor the environment.

The range of biodiversity on the Island provides a wealth of natural knowledge that can help people find jobs, learn new skills, enjoy their surroundings more, attract visitors and improve health. Our surroundings provide a unique environment to learn and be inspired, whatever your age – see the Biodiversity and You section for more ideas on how to get involved.

Information Gathering
There is an increasing demand for ecological information from developers, consultants, land managers and students. The collection, storage and analysis of accurate information over time enables us to see trends in the decline or spread of habitats and species, which can be related to factors such as land management, or climate change.

Habitat mapping, using a Geographic Information System (GIS) has been developed by the Isle of Wight Council parks and countryside section. The Isle of Wight Natural History and Archaeological Society is making major progress digitising species records.

Both elements form the basis of the Isle of Wight Local Records Centre - a partnership-led biological records centre based within the Isle of Wight Council. Launched in April 2010, IWLRC has been established with the principal aim of bringing together information on the Island’s wildlife, to make it available to all those who need it.

There is also an annual recorders’ conference, with talks and displays relating to recent recording projects plus the opportunity to share good practice.

Your records
Wildlife records can begin build a picture that can then be used to help protect species, enhance and create habitats, produce distribution atlases and monitor change. Find out more on our Wildlife Recording page.

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