=-= BERDS Newsletter - 05.02.2006 =-=

Dear BERDS participant:

The Biodiversity and Environmental Resource Data System of Belize has been on-line for 6 months now.  The system has grown steadily, adding new members as well as new features and enhancements. All of this is concisely detailed in the new glossy BERDS 2005 Annual Report. This document is available for download at http://www.biodiversity.bz/downloads/2005_annual_report.pdf.  

Below is a preview.

=-= BERDS 2005 Highlights =-=

- National demand for more, accurate and accessible data being met by BERDS

- Database grows 89% in first five months on-line

- Significant local support gained in 2005

- Crucial steps taken to make data available to wider global audience

- 16 step-by-step guides/tutorials help encourage BERDS use

- Global recognition for BERDS emerges

- Users from 48 countries visit BERDS

- Financial self-sustainability beginning to take shape

One point that the Annual Report demonstrates is that BERDS is still relatively nascent and in order to make BERDS the singular resource for environmental information that everyone expects, much more input is needed from its users.

As the number of specimen records grows (32,000+), the Species Profiles become more interesting and complete.  One major feature lacking for most profiles, however, is a decent photo.  The majority of species have no image for their profile.  While adding pictures to over 6,500 profiles is a daunting task that takes time, our efforts are really hampered by a lack of available pictures.

Therefore, we are issuing an urgent request to the conservation community for the submission of pictures to help with this effort. Pictures need to be more or less square, between 400x400 and 160x160 pixels in size, JPEG or GIF formats are both ok. Images need to be clear with good contrast, preferably showing the distinctive features of the species. Every submitted picture will clearly state the appropriate copyright ownership.  If you are afraid of copyright infringement (other users stealing

 your pictures from the site), please be aware that the pictures used on BERDS are not large enough or of sufficient resolution/quality to be of any real of interest to 'picture snatchers' or to be used in publications.

Please send pictures to info@biodiversity.bz

We hope that you will be able to contribute images and some of your data to make BERDS the singular resource for environmental information that its users expect.  If you are having trouble using BERDS, please check out our step-by-step tutorial guides which will aid you in undertaking a variety of tasks. (http://www.biodiversity.bz/about/tutorials)

Thanks in advance for your contributions.

Jan Meerman

Director

BERDS

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