National Water Vole Database & Mapping Project (Scotland data), 2008

Citation

Description

The Project aims to deliver one of the main actions for the water vole agreed by the UK Water Vole Steering Group in May 2007 and submitted to the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Review ie. :To establish and maintain a national water vole database and GIS:. The project aims to: ø Develop standardised methods for storing and managing water vole (Arvicola terrestris) and American mink (Mustela vison) data and to establish standard fields and formats for storing and managing water vole and mink data. ø Collate all existing data into a specially designed water vole and mink database using fields agreed with LRC representatives. Significant data sets are held by Local Record Centres (LRCs), County Wildlife Trusts, County Mammal Recorders and the Environment Agency. Internal Drainage Boards, British Waterways and Natural England also hold significant water vole and mink data. Work to collate data will be contracted to Local Record Centres who will work closely with the Project Co ordinator. ø Develop a GIS that will enable mapping of data and maximise the use of the datasets (at country, regional and local level); the distribution of water vole and mink in different habitats; regional and local key areas for water voles and local alert areas. ø Establish procedures to enable data holders to provide annual updates to the database in standard formats. ø Deliver training programmes to enable UK and Local BAP partners to maximise the benefits of the data and mapping ø Ensure that the databases and GIS are disseminated to UK and Local BAP partners and other key agencies. ø Ensure sustained and effective use of the datasets and methodologies developed during the life of the Project. The NWVMP is a GB-wide initiative. This dataset is a subset of records for Scotland only generated in the first phase of the project up to 2008. Records were contributed by multiple data providers, some of which have also supplied the records to NBN independently, so some records will duplicate records in other datasets. NWVMP records since 2015 have been supplied to NBN by PTES https://registry.nbnatlas.org/public/show/dr953, but that dataset does not include the earlier records to 2008 and 2009-2014.

Purpose

Data sets and mapping produced by the Project will be used to target water vole conservation work and assess trends in water vole and mink populations. For example, following methodologies developed by The Wildlife Trusts and recently endorsed by the UK Water Vole Steering Group, mapping of data will identify local and regional key areas for water voles and will produce local alert maps. This mapping will support conservation measures through the planning system, by targeting in agri-environment schemes, through habitat restoration work and mink control schemes. It will also enable more strategic working at local, regional and national levels. Data sets and mapping produced by the Project will also be used to help plan future water vole and mink control projects and will contribute to the development of fund raising strategies to support projects. Assessing trends is an essential part of national, regional and local BAP reporting. The current absence of collated data for England and the limited use of data currently constrains accurate assessment of trends and reporting, which in turn makes planning of conservation actions problematic. The data collation and mapping produced by this Project will provide accurate information on the current status and distribution of the water vole in England and regular data updates will enable future trends to be assessed. Data and mapping will be made available to UK and Local BAP partners, the National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway and Local Record Centres (LRCs).

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