Conservation Blog

Ecosystem restoration manifests in various ways and across different scales. How do analysts helping to manage public lands in South Florida best capture and communicate these on-the-ground changes?

A view in the Biodiversity Conservation in the Mediterranean Sea. What applies and what needs to be done.

The application of ArcGIS technology in rangeland management is revolutionizing how we approach sustainable land use. By providing powerful tools for mapping, monitoring, and analyzing rangeland conditions, ArcGIS enables better decision-making, resource management, and community engagement. Through real-time data collection, spatial analysis, and predictive modeling, ArcGIS supports the restoration of degraded lands, enhances grazing management, and improves biodiversity conservation. This technology not only optimizes the efficiency of rangeland initiatives but also fosters positive impacts on local communities, promoting environmental sustainability, economic growth, and social well-being.

Small nonprofits have historically spent much of their resources on communicating their aspirations and successes via the written word. These letters, emails, and applications are sent to both small and large private funders, allowing them to see the outcomes of the combined efforts of paid staff and, in our case, a grassroots network of volunteers. But what about the individual that came out on a 40°F (5°C) day to plant a handful of native trees? When do they get to see the collective impact of their efforts as the impressive figure that it is, beyond the black and white text of an annual report?

Build GIS skills that can make a difference. Join our no-cost MOOC, GIS for Climate Action, opening February 19.

Each year, millions of visitors are drawn to Wyoming for its breathtaking scenery and unmatched wildlife viewing. Most of these opportunities exist on public land managed by the U.S. National Park Service, where the primary goal is to protect wildlife. Although these destinations provide exceptional experiences for visitors, they do not represent the majority of places where wildlife are found in Wyoming or the United States. Across the country, the same species that seek refuge on protected public lands find themselves navigating complex landscapes riddled with highways, industry development, and numerous other human influences.

Arroyo Seco Foundation (ASF) and Pasadena's citizen scientists are stewards of the main tributary of the Los Angeles River, the Arroyo Seco (or 'dry gulch'). Genetically rare heritage Rainbow trout are trapped between man-made passage barriers throughout  this stream, which is why ASF is using GIS to monitor hot-spots and seasonal patterns in water quality.

Learn how Blue Heron Headwaters Conservancy uses GIS technology in the field and office to create an interactive trail web map, as a step towards maintaining and promoting public nature preserves for communities in Southeast Michigan.

Discover how high school students in Maine map invasive plant locations to help a local land conservation nonprofit in planning strategies to address these environmental threats.