The chairman of the National Forum for Biological Recording, Graham Walley, announced on Monday 22nd July that the Forum has achieved charitable status. Originally founded in 1986 as the National Federation for Biological Recording, it changed its name earlier this year.
Since its formation, the NFBR has been a catalyst in developing major initiatives in the world of wildlife recording:
• The NFBR was a pioneer in setting standards for recording wildlife, and especially the development of computer-based systems.
• It was a partner in the Co-ordinating Commission for Biological Recording in the 1990s under Sir John Burnett (the NBN Trust's first Chairman), recommending in particular that “a phased development of a national system is desirable to meet present and increasing future demands for biological records and [to] bring some coherence to the present disparate range of activities”.
• The NFBR was subsequently instrumental in negotiations leading to the establishment of the National Biodiversity Network and is a founder member of the NBN Trust.
• With the increase in cover of local biological records centres, the NFBR encouraged the setting-up of the Association of Local Environmental Records Centres in 2009 to specifically represent their interests.
• At our 2005 conference, it highlighted the decline of natural history services in the UK’s museums, making twelve recommendations. Regrettably the situation has deteriorated in the last eight years.
• The NFBR holds an annual conference, encouraging all aspects of biological recording including both species and habitats. This conference moves around the country to allow local participation.
Graham commented that the move to charitable status aims to allow the NFBR to seek public funding, enabling it to help more people get involved in biological recording and to facilitate future developments.
He thanked John Newbould and the small team who worked hard to produce an acceptable constitution, which reflected the aims and objectives of the former Federation.
The present trustees are Graham Walley (Chairman), John Newbould (Secretary), Clare Langrick (Treasurer and Membership), Steve Whitbread (Vice-chairman), Trevor James, Paul Harding and Helen Roy. The trustees are assisted by an advisory council of 15 members drawn from voluntary and official organisations involved with recording the UK’s wildlife.
Membership is £10 for an ordinary member and £20 for an institutional member and is open to anyone with an interest in biological recording.
National Forum for Biological Recording
Charity no 1152948
Registered Office: 3 Brookmead Close, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth DT3 6RS