Nobody starts a biodiversity monitoring program because they love managing data. But these programs produce a constant stream of data, and managing and archiving those incoming data is an important part of managing a monitoring program. While many of our network partners have developed data management systems that are linked to web sites and allow management of historical data, other partners are at or beyond their capacity to support more volunteers. We have three initiatives to help all programs with data management.

DEVELOP A SHARED DATA STANDARD: One of our main goals is to develop shared data standards so that data are more interoperable across monitoring networks and to assist programs to follow strict metadata standards to maximize their impact.  In our early development, we were inspired by the Bird Monitoring Data Exchange (developed by the Cornell Lab), an extension of DarwinCore, as a shared data standard between programs. By adapting this data standard for our own contexts, we ensure that our data have maximum utility in perpetuity. As the Butterfly Network was developed, member programs worked together to build a structure for data standards that optimizes comparability and interoperability while providing the flexibility for each program to customize protocols to its needs. Some programs, such as Monarch Watch, also upload data to the Global Biological Information Facility (GBIF).  We are also interested in supporting programs or datasets that wish to engage with DataONE, a project to provide access and long-term storage for all biodiversity and environmental data. 

SUPPORT DATA MANAGEMENT. We are a network of programs with different capacities and needs relative to data management.  Initially, several programs already had online data entry and management portals, but others, especially the regional Butterfly Monitoring Networks (BMNs; see Monitor Tracker), were struggling with old entry systems or still using paper and Excel. The Butterfly Network supported the development of Pollardbase (pollardbase.org), an online data management system for these programs using "Pollard Walks" (transect surveys whose protocols are based on the work of Ernie Pollard; first published in 1977: https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3207(77)90065-9).  This has facilitated these groups to share the data they have (Goal 4: Share Data) and expand their networks, bringing in new sites and new volunteers (Goal 5: Expand Capacity). We continue to support data management and curation through maintaining and improving this system for our partner programs.