Ministry of Environment Conservation Data Centre

Data Contributions

The Conservation Data Centre depends on the observations of scientists and knowledgeable amateur naturalists to continue building its province-wide database on the locations of species and ecological communities at risk.

The CDC will accept data in any format. The observation forms below have been designed to record the basic information necessary to create an "Occurrence Record" in our database. Please use these forms if it is convenient to do so. Separate forms have been designed for animal, plant, and ecological community observations. Any additional information you collect beyond what is listed on the forms will be most welcome.

Once received, your observation will be reviewed by the pertinent staff specialist. If appropriate, it will be incorporated into the database as a new record, or used to update an existing record. If you wish to contribute spatial data, we prefer this data to be projected in BC Albers co-ordinates.

If you are unable to view or download these observation forms, please contact the CDC and we will fax or mail you any forms you require.

Animals

Observation Forms

Please e-mail, fax or mail completed observation forms and data to the CDC directly.

Rare Vertebrate Animal Observation Form (PDF 225 KB)

Rare Dragonfly Observation Form (PDF 340 KB)

Rare Butterfly Observation Form (PDF 134 KB)

Datasets (Electronic Files)

Please submit all datasets to the CDC via the websites below*.

All Species (except fish): Wildlife Data Contributions

Fish Data: Fish Data Submissions

*If you are unable to submit your dataset via these sites, then you may e-mail it to the CDC.

Plants

Observation Forms and Datasets (Electronic Files)

Please e-mail, fax or mail completed observation forms and data to the CDC directly.

Rare Plant Observation Form (PDF 157 KB)

Ecological Communities

Ecological Community Observation Forms and Information

You can submit Ecological Community Observation data on the standard FS882 or Ground Inspection (GIF) forms available through the RISC Standard Field Manual For Describing Terrestrial Ecosystems in the Field (DTEIF). Fully completed FS882 forms or GIFs provide the best information with which to verify an element occurrence.

We will also accept in any format the following minimum data for an element occurrence:

Geographic location
Either place name details or co-ordinate locations (latitude and longitude, or UTM), or both; and directions to the sties. Attach a map if possible.

Description of the site
Elevation, relative steepness, aspect (i.e., north, south, east, west), exposure to wind and sun, and presence of rocks, bedrock or bare soil.

Description of the vegetation
Dominant plants of each life form present, e.g., trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses, mosses, lichens. Vegetation structure if possible (e.g., complex and multi-layered, or relatively uniform in height).

In addition to the field data, the practical conservation value of an element occurrence can be described using the new Ecological Community Conservation Evaluation Form (PDF 28 KB). Instructions are included on the back of the form. For definitions of terms in the Evaluation Summary see the Element Occurrence Ranking Factors page.

Other sources of ecological community information and ecosystem mapping

Terrestrial Ecosystem Mapping (TEM)
A standard methodology for mapping terrestrial ecosystems in B.C. TEM is a source of information on the location and description of ecological communities in B.C.

Field Manual for Describing Terrestrial Ecosystems
The standard methodology for describing ecosystems in the field in B.C., and ecological data capture (VENUS).

Sensitive Ecosystems Inventories (SEI)
SEI projects are inter-jurisdictional, cooperative inventories focussing on rare and ecologically sensitive ecosystems in B.C. SEI projects are a source of information on the location and description of ecological communities in B.C.