Identification qualifications

The importance of accurate biological identification

Widespread concern for the quality of our environment and the conservation of biodiversity has led to a rapid explosion of legislation and associated procedures for assessing the status of habitats, and for measuring impacts and changes. One consequence is a heavy demand for practical investigations and reports.

A common feature of biological monitoring, environmental impact assessments, nature conservation studies and management plans is the requirement for identifying animal and plant species. From these identifications, information on abundance, distribution richness, change and many other aspects are then acquired.

Fundamental to the entire process is accurate identification - the consistent use of the right names for fauna and flora. The significance of subsequent analyses and interpretation is heavily dependent on this stage of the process, yet is so often taken for granted and identification skills are much underrated. Without confidence in the original data, any final recommendations must be open to doubt.