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6.0 Observations About Database Management

Many databases are no longer directly funded and so their ongoing maintenance is under threat. This may result in a database being halted or it may result in a decrease in the amount of information going into a database. Over time this latter option will lead to a decline in the utility of a database. A database that is not updated becomes increasingly irrelevant and less able to effectively answer management and science questions.

Even funded databases (often through PGSF) have funding limitations that, for example, make it difficult to archive older data into the electronic database and/or limit the opportunities to interpret and use the data collected

A change in the priorities / perspectives of a database funder can lead to the future of even the existing data in a database becoming uncertain. This is currently the case for several long term vegetation datasets (ie. FRI indigenous vegetation datasets, DTZ New Zealand Ltd - South Island High Country Vegetation Database).

The databases managed by the Department of Conservation are undergoing major redevelopment and a new integrated Bio Web database is being established. Reasons for this included:

• There was a large number of historic databases that were unlinked and used by few if any staff
• A lack of standardization in past database establishment and management
• It is difficult to use many of the old databases. Many were not user-friendly.
• Many (e.g. field workers) preferred to use the original paper records which are often available in Conservancy/area/field centre offices.
• Many of the old databases were not year 2000 compliant.

Databases generally are in the state of review. Many organisations are questioning which databases should be maintained or developed. Databases can be linked together and split up. Managers can change and sometimes a database's future becomes uncertain because a key individual leaves the organisation. A number of people I spoke to hoped that the Ministry for Environment's interest in national state of environment reporting would provide an extra impetus to maintain or further develop some databases.