A new review of research from the Biological Records Centre (BRC) highlights the vital role of biological recording and national monitoring schemes and taxonomic societies in helping scientists understand how Britain’s wildlife is changing. The review is also being released alongside a new GBIF hosted portal that will help users explore the data collected by biological recording, which BRC helps to mobilise.

Drawing on over 140 million species records collected by volunteer recorders, recording schemes and citizen scientists, the review showcases how biodiversity data have transformed our understanding of the natural world over the past decade. From tracking shifts in species distributions to informing national biodiversity indicators, the research demonstrates the growing importance of citizen science for long-term monitoring in addressing environmental challenges.