Introducing the CMS Consortium
The CMS software is used by hundreds of organisations but users can join the CMS Consortium and help direct the management of CMS.
The Consortium has a management team which acts as a 'think-tank' to focus developments of the software, and to initiate and fund projects which explore new applications. The management team is made up of the Chairman and General Secretary who have 3 year appointments with other members being elected each year by the members.
The current team is:
Chairman: Professor Denis Bellamy
General Secretary: Mike Alexander
Ordinary Members: Hennie Blikman (Natuurmonumenten)
André Luinstra (Staatsbosbeheer)
David Wheeler (CCW)
Secretariat: David Mitchel (exeGesIS)
Prof Bellamy reached the chair of the CMS Consortium via a university career, during which he spent twenty years heading the department of zoology in University College Cardiff. He served for seven years as a council member of the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW).
He describes himself thus: "I am a 'systems thinker' who uses computers to model ecosystems, with particular reference to their management. I reached the chair of the CMS Consortium via a university career, during which I spent twenty years heading the department of zoology in University College Cardiff. I have just left the CCW after seven years as a council member, during which I did my bit to promote "managerialism" at site level.
It was the need to make predictions about the impact of rabbits on Skomer Island. NNR that propelled me towards the use of computers, and set me questioning the relationships of ecological research to conservation management. I have no doubts about predictive site management being the ultimate test as to whether ecologists can say anything useful about the world. Running a mature site requires systems thinking at the highest level of biological organisation. It can be frustrating that we often have little more to put into our management plans than vague ecological generalities and natural history.
However, I am enthusiastic about the potential for CMS to turn a species-list into resource inventory for auditing the relevant stocks and flows. Another reason for my commitment is that the CMS can be a powerful tool for spreading best practice. In this respect, I believe that maintaining care for the environment alongside economic prosperity has become one of humanity's greatest socio-scientific challenges, and there really isn't time for re-inventing wheels."
Mike originally trained in Fine Arts and Sculpture. He first got involved in conservation working in bird observatories on Skokholm and the Calf of Man, followed by research into oil pollution for the Field Studies Council.
He spent 10 years on Skomer Island - probably the most important and formative period of his life. On leaving the Island he joined the Countryside Council for Wales as a National Nature Reserve (NNR) warden, covering Morfa Harlech and Morfa Dyffryn, Cadair Idris, Rhinog and Coed Llety Walter in Meirioneth. He became concerned at this time by the lack of management planning and systematic recording and in 1987 developed a paper system for planning and recording work on nature reserves. This led to collaboration with James Perrins, a long term friend, resulting eventually in the development of the CMS software and Consortium.
Mike is employed by CCW as Conservation Management Coordinator, with responsibility for defining and obtaining appropriate standards of management on all statutory sites in Wales. His international involvement in recent years has included work for ICONA (Spanish National Parks), Costa Rica National Parks, the Wildlife Institute of India, the Ramsar Bureau, Estonia National Parks etc. Author of "The Guide to Management Planning in Nature Reserves and Protected Areas", recognised by many as a definitive work on the subject. When not actively involved in his full time work (a rare occurrence!), he spends time in wood turning and making furniture. He is also a very keen photographer and has many published photographs to his name.
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David Mitchel - Secretariat to the CMSC
David heads up the CMS unit of exeGesIS where he leads on all aspects of the management, service delivery and development of CMS. Prior to joining exeGesIS, David worked for the Environment & Heritage Service in Northern Ireland, for 12 years, first of all as an assistant warden in a busy Country Park and then, for the last 8 years as the Data Manager, running a GIS system, biological recording (especially the development and use of Recorder) and Northern Ireland’s input into the National Biodiversity Network. David is a keen mycologist involved in especially in grassland fungi surveys.
