Unfortunately, we cannot handle uploading records directly from individuals to the NBN Atlas. So, if you are not collecting records as part of an organisation, recording scheme, society or group read this guidance to learn how you can share your records to the NBN Atlas. Otherwise, you could be eligible to register as a Data partner, read more here.
You can share you records through one of our registered Data Partners, see the map and list of them here.
The easiest way for individuals to share their records is via the iNaturalist and iRecord platforms. The NBN Trust is the lead for iNaturalistUK, read more here. The Biological Records Centre maintain the iRecord platform, read more here.
Both platforms provide an app and website which can be used to submit your records:
- iNaturalist (UK) website: https://uk.inaturalist.org/
- iRecord website: https://irecord.org.uk/
Both iNaturalist (the app and website) and iRecord (the app only) also offer identification suggestions based on an uploaded image.
For records on iNaturalist, the community of users agree on an identification and the record becomes ‘Research grade‘. Records which are ‘Research grade’ and the species has a match in the UK Species Inventory (managed by the Natural History Museum, London) are shared to iRecord. The iRecord platform is used by local and national experts (e.g., county recorders, local and national recording schemes) to biodiversity records in around the UK. Read more about the data sharing from iNaturalist to iRecord here. Alternatively you can share directly to the iRecord platform. Explore using both platforms and see which works best for you.
Once the record is verified as correct on iRecord, the record is typically shared to the NBN Atlas via the relevant recording scheme. Please note how quickly your record is shared to the NBN Atlas depends on the recording scheme or society. Read more about data sharing from iRecord to the NBN Atlas here.
If you do not want to register an account with either of the above platforms, iRecord offers the option to submit a casual record, without needing to register an account. However, it is recommended that you create an account, meaning verifiers can contact you if they have any queries about your record.
If you have any questions, get in touch with support@nbnatlas.org.
The image below illustrates how records can make their way to the NBN Atlas:
