|
The first NatureMapping program
began in
Washington State in 1993 when the Washington Department of Fish and
Wildlife (WDFW), in partnership with the Washington Cooperative Fish and
Wildlife Research Unit Gap Analysis Project at the University of
Washington, initiated a pilot project asking teachers to collect "real"
data for a statewide biological database. Their vision was to create a
national network that links natural resource agencies, academia and land
planners with local communities primarily through schools. Their goal was
to keep common animals common and to maintain their quality of life. Their
approach was to train individuals to become aware of their natural
resources, and to provide the tools to inventory and monitor those
resources.
The pilot grew from 23 teachers to more than 200 in two years! The Oregon
Biodiversity Project used this model to begin a similar program in 1995.
NatureMapping in Wisconsin
Wisconsin began its NatureMapping program in November 2003 after Augusta
High School teacher Paul Tweed presented the concept to Beaver Creek Reserve
(BCR) Director Rick
Koziel. They planned to launch the program in west-central Wisconsin until
staff from the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources caught wind of the idea
and encouraged Paul and Rick to take it statewide, which is how its home
base came to be the Beaver Creek Reserve Citizen Science Center.
Less than two years after launching the program, Wisconsin NatureMapping
coordinators from Beaver Creek Reserve's Citizen Science program had
trained nearly 500 NatureMappers!
|
The Hows and Whys of NatureMapping
(reprinted from the Washington State program module)
"As demands on the use of natural resources increase, proper land
management and land use planning will be critical to ensure renewable
resources and adequate habitat for fish and wildlife populations.
Unfortunately, species and the habitats that support them are disappearing
at an alarming rate. Within the United States alone, 1,087 species of
plants or animals have been listed as threatened or endangered. As a
result, "biodiversity" has become a familiar term and an important issue.
How can we ensure adequate protection of animals and plant species and the
habitats on which they depend?
"Past efforts to preserve biodiversity have been reactive and have focused
on rescuing species which teeter on the brink of extinction. This strategy
is difficult, expensive and inefficient, and has been unsuccessful in
slowing the rate of extinction. Additionally, limited conservation dollars
cannot keep up with the recovery efforts for species currently listed as
endangered. A proactive approach is needed to identify and protect
geographical areas (habitats) that are critical to individual species or
groups of species before their existence is threatened.
"This type of approach is currently being applied throughout the United
States using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) by the National Gap
Analysis Program. Gap Analysis focuses on maintaining populations of
native species in their natural habitats. The analysis involves the use of
satellite imagery to create a current land cover map for each state, on
which the distribution of amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals are
overlaid.
"The Gap Analysis Program, however, works on a coarse scale, analyzing
ecoregions within a state, the state itself, ecoregions that span multiple
states, and the entire nation. Counties and other large land unit managers
can use their information to complement the Gap information, but cities
and communities need biodiversity report cards for their land planning
decisions on a finer scale. The information is available. However, the
technological tools to analyze satellite imagery and GIS maps, and
information transfer via the Internet are still new. It also takes time
for land managers, resource agencies, and teachers to understand how to
apply all this new information to meet the needs of their communities,
policies and environmental education curriculum.
"The Washington Gap Analysis Outreach Program began the process of
educating the public on the products and uses of the Gap Analysis data
sets by asking the public to become involved with the project. Audubon
members and retired natural resource professionals were the first
volunteers. A pilot project between the Washington Gap Analysis Project (WAGAP)
and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) to include
schools began with 23 teachers in September, 1993 grew to 500 in 1996 and
still is growing. The Outreach Program is now called The Nature Mapping
Program, and citizens, community groups, city, county and state
organizations have joined to collect data that is available to everyone."
1996 University of Washington and The NatureMapping
Program in Washington
|
Questions?
Contact info@wisnatmap.org or call 715-877-2212.
|
