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Accessing our GIS data
22 September 2011
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Image: Steve Round
We're committed to making our biodiversity data available to all audiences so that conservation and development decisions are made on the basis of the highest quality data possible.
The RSPB believes that the only limits to the free provision of data should be where this may cause harm to the species or sites in question.
Where to find RSPB GIS data
The RSPB is committed to making the data which it collects available through the National Biodiversity Network (NBN). This should be the first point of call for all RSPB data.
If the data which you require are not yet available through the NBN, or if you require a higher level of access to data on the NBN, you will be asked to complete a data request form providing further details of how these data will be used. We will use this information to make a decision about releasing the data at better resolution.
It may not be considered suitable to supply sensitive data at its original resolution, in which case lower resolution data may be supplied. Those who use data for conservation purposes, such as staff of conservation organisations, are given a higher basic level of access to sensitive RSPB data than the general public.
Data sensitivity is determined in line with the guidance developed in consultation with the Rare Breeding Birds Panel for the new Atlas of Breeding Birds.
Partnership Data
We regularly work in partnership with other conservation organisations and government departments. One or more of the partners will be designated as the dataset distributor, having agreed conditions for data access with the other partners. Where the RSPB is not the dataset distributor, we will refer any requests for that dataset to the distributing partner.
Charges
No charge will be levied for data which are to be used for conservation purposes. Where the data are to be used for commercial purposes, for example in a consultancy report, a charge may be levied to cover the cost of the time taken to extract and process the data. This is levied at a rate of £150 for the first hour and £75 for each subsequent hour, plus VAT.