[Seminar Series] The Hidden World of Sensitive Species Data

The growth of biodiversity data aggregators and citizen science projects over the past two decades has led to an exponential expansion in the application of big data to conservation assessment and biodiversity research. Subsequently, expectations that biodiversity data should be made available have risen, as has the recognition of the challenges of both releasing and not releasing Restricted Access (sensitive) species data (RASD).

As biodiversity data has been democratised, the motivations of individuals, researchers, and organisations in restricting access to certain types of data have remained constant. Data producers and custodians may have a more conservative view of access than data consumers. Factors to be taken into consideration include type and level of threat, vulnerability, type of information, and public availability. Additionally, there is a growing recognition of the need to enable Indigenous peoples and local communities to assert data sovereignty over traditional knowledge and biodiversity data gathered by, about or within areas managed by them.
Restricted access species data requires constraints on (constrained) shared access to meet conservation, legal and legislative requirements. Access to this data is essential for improved environmental and research outcomes, better evidenced-based decision-making and reduced regulatory timeframes (improved environmental and research outcomes).

This session will explore the hidden world of sensitive species data. It includes an explanation of the difference between threatened and sensitive species, what factors may be considered when listing a species as sensitive; how sensitive species may classified; the types of treatments which may be applied to RASD, and how the Atlas of Living Australia manages RASD.

Speaker: Tania Laity (Atlas of Living Australia), Cam Slatyer (CSIRO)

Language: English

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Photo Credit: dhaintz