Surveillance and Monitoring Programme

The overall aim of the Tracking Mammals Partnership is to provide good quality information on the changing status of all UK mammals. The diverse ecology of mammals means that one type of survey will not provide information on all species, and often surveys need to be specifically designed for a particular group of species, or in some cases individual species.

The TMP has taken the approach of coordinating a diverse programme of surveillance and monitoring schemes, some that collect data on a range of species and others covering individual species that require more specialist survey methods.

The Schemes

Survey schemes are listed and grouped according to species and area coverage, into wider countryside multi-species schemes, urban multi-species schemes and single species schemes. Within the groupings, schemes are in chronological order with the longest running scheme listed first. The TMP also supports research and development of new methods and schemes that can be incorporated into the programme once they have been tried and tested.

Guidelines and best practice

The TMP has recognised that an important part of co-ordinating a UK wide surveillance and monitoring programme for mammals involves standardising, where possible, the methods used and data collection and management, and has developed a set of best practice guidelines for designing surveillance schemes.

The TMP has also recognised the great importance of the volunteer surveyors who give many hours of their time freely to collect invaluable data. We have published a manual on engaging with volunteers and managing volunteer networks that aims to provide information on how to provide the best service to volunteers, retain their interest and develop their skills.

Would you like to help?

The TMP has a large, experienced and knowledgeable volunteer workforce collecting data each year, but we would like to encourage greater public participation. Information on how you can participate in survey schemes can be found in Volunteer participation or by accessing links for individual schemes.