Species Licence Returns Data 2017-2025
Species occurrence records extracted from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) Species Licence Return documents by LERC Wales between January and March 2026. A total of 7,734 records (2010–2025) were captured using a standardised process within the Cofnod Online Recording System.
The dataset is provided as two outputs: a full internal version containing sensitive species and personal data, and a restricted Darwin Core version suitable for external use with appropriate redactions applied. The internal version will be transformed and made available to NRW staff through internal GIS systems.
Records have undergone validation and quality assurance, with some excluded or flagged due to data quality issues. The dataset represents a point-in-time extraction and may be updated as additional licence return data are processed.
Only a redacted version of this data is available under the Open Government Licence and available for public use, see Limitations on Public Access and Use Constraints.
- Identification
- Extent
- Distribution
- Quality
- Keywords
- Spatial Reference System
- Content
- Constraints
- Maintenance
- Metadata
Identification
- Identifier
- NRW_DS161533
- Alternative Title
-
- Species Licence Returns Data Capture Project
- Species Licence Returns.lyr
- Metadata Language
- English
- Lineage
-
Data were manually extracted from NRW Species Licence Return documents (2017–2025) and entered into the Cofnod Online Recording System using a customised form. Standard fields (species, date, grid reference, recorder and licence details) were recorded, with additional information captured where available.
Records were checked for duplication, validated using system rules, and approximately 10% were independently verified. The dataset was then exported into two versions: a full internal dataset containing sensitive species and personal data, and a Darwin Core version with sensitive species and selected personal data fields redacted for external sharing.
Records were excluded where data were missing, duplicated or unusable, and a small number were flagged for data quality issues. A copy of the dataset is retained by the Local Environmental Records Centre (LERC) for further validation and curation; records published by NRW to the NBN Atlas represent an unverified version of the data and may not reflect subsequent verification by the LERCs.
- Dataset Reference Date (Creation)
- 2026-05-13
- Dataset Reference Date (Publication)
- 2026-07-14
Temporal Extent
- Begin date
- 2015-05-06
- End date
- 2025-08-31
- Topic category
-
- Biota
Extent
Extent
- Geographic Extent
- Wales (WLS)
))
Distribution
- Format Type and Description
-
-
Delimited
(
.xlsx
)
- Specification
-
Excel
-
Delimited
(
.xlsx
)
Quality
Data quality
- Quality Scope
- Dataset
- Conformity
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services
- Explanation
-
This dataset has not been assessed for conformance to the referenced INSPIRE regulation.
- Degree
- false
- Lineage
-
Data were manually extracted from NRW Species Licence Return documents (2017–2025) and entered into the Cofnod Online Recording System using a customised form. Standard fields (species, date, grid reference, recorder and licence details) were recorded, with additional information captured where available.
Records were checked for duplication, validated using system rules, and approximately 10% were independently verified. The dataset was then exported into two versions: a full internal dataset containing sensitive species and personal data, and a Darwin Core version with sensitive species and selected personal data fields redacted for external sharing.
Records were excluded where data were missing, duplicated or unusable, and a small number were flagged for data quality issues. A copy of the dataset is retained by the Local Environmental Records Centre (LERC) for further validation and curation; records published by NRW to the NBN Atlas represent an unverified version of the data and may not reflect subsequent verification by the LERCs.
Keywords
Keywords
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2008-06-01
Keywords
-
NRW Thesaurus
-
- biological monitoring
- species records
- Type
- Theme
Citation
- Date (Publication)
- 2026-07-07
Spatial Reference System
Content
Content Information
NRW Profile
Custom Elements
Constraints
Constraints
Limitations on Public Access and Use
- Restriction type
- Other restrictions
Access Constraints Directive
- Limitations
- INSPIRE_Directive_Article13_1h
Access Constraints Text
- Other constraints
-
This data is comprised of a mixture of third party owned records and NRW records. NRW permits access to and release of this data under the same terms as its own data. Part of this dataset is sensitive and access may be restricted under relevant legislation due to the inclusion of personal data and exact locations of sensitive species. NRW may NOT publish or disseminate the sensitive elements of the dataset, including the full internal version of the data. Requests should be referred to NRW's Access to Information Officer. However, there are no access restrictions on non-sensitive data. NRW may release, publish or disseminate a redacted version of the dataset freely.
Use Constraints
- Use constraints type
- Other restrictions
- Other constraints
-
© Natural Resources Wales and various third-party recorders. NRW owns the copyright of the collation, but ownership of individual records may rest with the originator. NRW does NOT grant permission to third parties to re-use or disseminate the full dataset. A redacted version of the data may be re-used under the terms of the Open Government Licence, provided it is done so accurately, acknowledging both the source and NRW's copyright. It is the recipient's responsibility to ensure the data is fit for the intended purpose.
Attribution Statement
- Other constraints
-
Contains Natural Resources Wales information © Natural Resources Wales and Database Right. All rights reserved.
Licence
- Other constraints
- Open Government Licence