The HOS Scientific Committee is responsible for all matters relating to conservation, and the recording and monitoring of birds, in particular:
Surveys and recording
- prioritising and formulation of survey programme
- consultation and cooperation with other survey organisations, in particular through the Joint Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan Monitoring Group (JHBAP group)
- promotion, organisation, and management of surveys (through website, newsletter, etc.)
- encouragement & targeting of the general recording of key species or areas
Research
- encouragement and support of specialist surveys & projects (eg. bird ringing)
- allocation of funds for undertaking and reporting on such research
Records management
- collection, validation & collation of records of both birds and ornithological sites (casual records, survey results, and ringing), including
- guidance to recorders (software, submission methods, etc)
- policies for vetting records,
Conservation
Ensuring reporting of survey results and analyses of records by means of:
- publication in HBR (systematic list and papers)
- liaison & cooperation with other relevant organisations and agencies (eg. JHBAP, HBIC, HBP, Natural England, Solent Forum)
- maintaining HOS awareness of significant developments in planning or conservation issues
Provision of input/comment to conservation policies & proposals, eg. Biodiversity Action Plans (BAPs), Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINCs), Environmental Stewardship Entry-level (ELS) and Higher-level (HLS) targeting.
Budget for Surveys & Recording, Research, Records Management, & Conservation
Terms of reference for Records Panel
- storage, analysis, and retrieval of records (including records input, database management, backup, and data retention policies)
- distribution and release of records, including:
- policies for data release and Data Release Panel
- policies with regard to rare birds and Rare Birds Panel,
- provision of data and response to info requests from consultancies, local authorities, landowners, etc.
- provision of data through data-exchange services to Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre (HBIC) and Hampshire Biodiversity Partnership (HBP)
- provision of data to Hampshire Bird Report (HBR) authors (of systematic list and/or papers)
- (this version agreed April 2007, superceding April 1997)