CNDDB News Blog

As the coronavirus pandemic begins to affect our everyday lives, the CNDDB team is doing our part in “flattening the curve” and practicing social distancing by working from home. If you have any questions, please contact us via email. Email CNDDB@wildlife.ca.gov for data and species inquiries, and BDB@wildlife.ca.gov for subscription inquiries.

There will be limited network access, so we won’t be able to add and update as many EOs or spotted owl records as we normally would. Fortunately, we do have the Online Field Survey Form where you can submit your data. Data submitted through the Online Field Survey Form will be incorporated into the “Unprocessed Data from CNDDB Online Field Survey Form” [ds1002] in BIOS for all subscribers to access after our monthly distribution.

Blogs will continue to post; we have a couple of fun ones lined up for the next two days. Stay safe and healthy, everyone!

A small western toad sheltering-in-place.

CNDDB and CDFW are implementing a new system for managing subscriber access to CNDDB-related data and tools, including RareFind 5, the CNDDB and Spotted Owl Data Viewer, CNDDB-related datasets in BIOS, and downloadable GIS files for both the CNDDB and Spotted Owl Observations Database. We will no longer be distributing the monthly cnddb_gov and cnddb_com login and password information to our subscribers. Instead, starting February 4, 2020, any user wishing to access CNDDB data and tools will be required to register for an individual CDFW account and be listed as an authorized user under a current CNDDB subscription.

We have developed a custom web application to allow subscription account-holders to independently maintain their authorized user lists. The process is straightforward: subscription administrators create a list of authorized users for their organization, and those users create individual login accounts. Once an individual account has been verified as an authorized user, that individual will be able to log in using their personal credentials as long as the subscription remains active.

This new system has many benefits for subscribers and CNDDB alike:

• Provides a mechanism for subscribers to easily control who has access through their subscription
• Allows subscribers to add, edit, or remove authorized users at any time
• No monthly password updates to keep track of
• Addresses IT security concerns associated with multiple users accessing secure data via the same login account
• Facilitates a better understanding of our CNDDB subscription client base
• Improves customer service by enabling CNDDB staff to communicate more effectively and directly with our users

More information can be found in the Subscription User Management Instructions and FAQs (PDF), and please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

Calflora has developed a new rare plant data collection form that enables users to more easily fill out the detailed fields CNDDB staff need to generate high quality occurrence records. Supported with funding from the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, and designed in collaboration with Parks Conservancy staff, CNDDB experts, and rare plant botanists from throughout California, this new form allows users to collect rare plant observation information in the field via the Calflora Observer Pro mobile application, available for iOS and Android devices.

To use the new Calflora form, you must have a registered Calflora account and join the Specialty Group when logged in to the Calflora webpage. You will see the new form when you refresh Observer Pro and when you enter data using the Specialty Group in Plant Observation Entry.

Calflora also has an option to obscure your rare plant observations. If you choose to obscure your observations, we recommend that you allow CNDDB to have access to your unobscured location information by indicating your preference in My Calflora / Preferences under Observation Sharing.

Keep in mind that observations entered into the Calflora database are not automatically submitted to the CNDDB. To ensure we receive your data, you can notify us of your Calflora upload or submit your data directly to CNDDB.