Biological Records Centre, Michael Pocock.
Abstract
This presentation focuses on UK-scale biodiversity monitoring, emphasizing the critical role of citizen science and partnerships in collecting, validating, and utilizing biodiversity data. With over 70,000 volunteers contributing annually, the monitoring supports trends analysis, conservation priorities, and policy-making while leveraging technology like AI and mobile apps. Volunteer data underpins key research and policy indicators, including over a third of Defra's Headline Biodiversity Indicators and thousands of species trends. The presentation highlights future opportunities for integration, such as combining structured and unstructured data, new methodologies like eDNA and acoustics, and fostering inclusive engagement to better understand and address biodiversity loss, predict future scenarios, and support conservation goals.