Ecologists spend hours wrestling with QGIS and regularly face tight Biodiversity Net Gain deadlines. Is it time to outsource your digital mapping?

I delivered a seminar at Ecology Expo 2026 for freelancers & small businesses in ecology who may not have in-house GIS skills or access to geospatial specialists.

So, you work in the ecology sector but don’t use a digital data system yet? Breathe. You’re not alone. After all, it’s not that simple to switch to digital processes overnight. And if you’re thinking about it or need to do it, I bet two questions are going through your mind: Should I do it myself? Is it better to hire an external GIS training provider? You’ll find the answer to these by the end of this article.