Ecology Hub
The ecology organisations and resources worth knowing
Ecology can be difficult to navigate when you are starting out. Professional bodies, licences, training providers, qualifications, events and specialist organisations all play a part. We’ve brought the important ones together in one place and explain why you might need them.
Signposts
The organisations worth knowing
Professional bodies 3
British Ecological SocietyThe learned society for ecology in the UK. Journals, grants, an annual meeting and a strong early career network.britishecologicalsociety.org →CIEEMThe Chartered Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management. The professional body most UK ecologists belong to, with membership grades from student through to Chartered Ecologist.cieem.net →IEMAThe Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment. The professional body for environmental and sustainability practitioners, and a route to Chartered Environmentalist.iema.net →
Qualifications 4
Chartered Ecologist (CEcol)CIEEM chartered status for experienced ecologists. The recognised mark of a senior professional in the sector.cieem.net →Chartered Environmentalist (CEnv)Awarded through licensed bodies including CIEEM and IEMA. Recognises broad environmental professional competence.socenv.org.uk →CIEEM membership gradesQualifying, Associate and Full membership, each with its own competency requirements. The ladder most consultancy careers climb.cieem.net →FISC botanical skills certificateThe Field Identification Skills Certificate from BSBI. A one day practical botany assessment, graded 1 to 6, that employers increasingly ask for.bsbi.org →
Licences 4
Great crested newt district level licensingA landscape scale alternative to site by site newt licences, available in parts of England through Natural England.gov.uk →Natural England wildlife licencesProtected species survey and mitigation licences for England: bats, great crested newts, badgers, dormice and more.gov.uk →Natural Resources Wales licensingSpecies licensing for Wales. A separate application route and a separate register from England.naturalresources.wales →NatureScot licensingSpecies licensing for Scotland, covering survey, research and development licences.nature.scot →
Training providers 5
Bat Conservation Trust trainingBat survey and licence training, plus the Bat Care Network. The usual starting point for anyone working towards a bat licence.bats.org.uk →BSBIThe Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Field meetings, training and the FISC botanical skills certificate.bsbi.org →Field Studies CouncilResidential and day courses in species identification and survey skills at centres across the UK. Where a great many ecologists learnt their plants.field-studies-council.org →Freshwater Biological AssociationTraining and identification courses in freshwater invertebrates and river ecology, based at Windermere.fba.org.uk →Mammal Society trainingCourses on mammal survey and identification, including licence species such as water vole and dormouse.mammal.org.uk →
Events 4
BES Annual MeetingOne of the largest ecology conferences in Europe, held every December, with strong early career sessions.britishecologicalsociety.org →CIEEM conferences and eventsSpring and autumn conferences plus regional section events through the year. The main gathering for consultancy ecologists.cieem.net →Mammal Society conferenceAnnual conference with a student and early career strand.mammal.org.uk →National Bat ConferenceThe Bat Conservation Trust annual conference for bat workers, surveyors and researchers.bats.org.uk →
Ecology organisations 12
Amphibian and Reptile ConservationThe national charity for amphibians and reptiles. Survey guidance, reserves and links to the local amphibian and reptile groups.arc-trust.org →Bat Conservation TrustThe national organisation for bats. Advice, training, the National Bat Helpline and the National Bat Monitoring Programme.bats.org.uk →BuglifeThe invertebrate conservation charity. Guidance, campaigns and survey projects.buglife.org.uk →Freshwater Habitats TrustPond and freshwater conservation, and the PondNet monitoring programme.freshwaterhabitats.org.uk →FroglifeAmphibian and reptile conservation with a strong education and community programme.froglife.org →Mammal SocietyScience led charity for UK mammals. Survey guidance, training and the mammal atlas.mammal.org.uk →Natural EnglandThe government adviser for the natural environment in England. Licensing, designated sites and Biodiversity Net Gain.gov.uk →Natural Resources WalesEnvironment and conservation body for Wales, covering licensing, permitting and protected sites.naturalresources.wales →NatureScotScotland nature agency. Licensing, protected areas and national strategy.nature.scot →PlantlifeWild plant and fungi conservation. Reserves, campaigns and identification resources.plantlife.org.uk →RSPBThe UK largest nature conservation charity. Reserves, research and a well known volunteering and internship route.rspb.org.uk →The Wildlife TrustsForty six local trusts managing reserves and running volunteer programmes across the UK. A common first step into ecology.wildlifetrusts.org →
Useful resources 8
BTOThe British Trust for Ornithology. Bird survey methods, the ringing scheme and the Breeding Bird Survey.bto.org →iRecordSubmit and verify wildlife records. It feeds the national datasets everyone else searches.irecord.org.uk →JNCCThe Joint Nature Conservation Committee. Publishes the Phase 1 Habitat Survey handbook and UK wide conservation guidance.jncc.gov.uk →Local Environmental Records CentresThe association of local records centres. A data search from the relevant centre is standard for any ecological assessment.alerc.org.uk →MAGIC mapDefra interactive map of designated sites, priority habitats and licence data for England and Wales. Open every desk study with this.magic.defra.gov.uk →NBN AtlasThe National Biodiversity Network species records for the UK. Where to check what has been recorded near a site.nbnatlas.org →Statutory biodiversity metricThe government Biodiversity Net Gain metric and guidance. Mandatory for most development in England.gov.uk →UKHabThe UK Habitat Classification. The habitat system behind Biodiversity Net Gain assessments.ukhab.org →
Study
Looking for where to study?
UK universities offering ecology and related environmental study, with a link straight to each one, live in the University Directory.
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