Putting a North Carolina Wildlife Conservation Grassroots Network on the Map
North Carolina Wildlife Federation (NCWF) has been around since 1945, doing much of its work behind the scenes, lobbying for improved conservation practices. In 2004 NCWF began their great efforts to enlarge the network of conservationists via a chapter network not unlike that of other larger nonprofits in the United States. Over the years, the network has grown, spreading like wildfire.
There are 16 active NCWF chapters throughout the state as of the writing of this blog. These chapters are volunteer-led efforts, and although they are a part of the larger statewide organization, they maintain individual identities grounded in the needs of the habitats in their own communities.
These chapters span from the Pocosin wetland habitat of northeastern NC (home to the only wild population of Red Wolves in the world) to longleaf forests (habitat for the red-cockaded woodpeckers and other rare, threatened, and endangered species) to the deciduous piedmont forests bordering the Appalachian mountains.
With the help of NCWF staff, this extended volunteer network has brought together their passions, interests, and skills to identify and remove acres worth of invasive species such as English ivy (Hedera helix), autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), phragmities (Phragmites australis), japanese stiltgrass (Microstegium vimineum) and tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima).
Tens of thousands of volunteers have planted thousands of native trees such as Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides), longleaf pine (Pinus palustris), and various species of oak (Quercus) for wildlife, largely in public lands; they have dedicated hours to litter cleanups all over the state; they have restored thousands of acres of pollinator habitat; and they have installed constructed habitats where appropriate. The chapter network has also brought folks to the outdoors, engaging them in constructive educational activities with topics ranging from ethical hunting practices to identifying native insects of the Carolinas.
How can the power of pictures and mapping tell a story of cumulative impact over time?
Over the past year, NCWF has worked to organize years' worth of existing data and improve our data collection and organizational processes. This will allow us to better tell our story by incorporating more accurate geodetic data into our impact tracking while also giving special consideration to the protection of threatened or endangered species. As the network of advocates for wildlife grows, we hope to capture this growth in impact over time via tools such as the ArcGIS Experience Builder to create interactive sliding bars for baseline comparisons. We hope that this visual will allow individuals to see the impact that their hours of effort and dedication are having for wildlife and habitat conservation in this biodiverse state continually impacted by rapid population growth.
To those of us geospatial fanatics, the use of maps to tell a story is a no-brainer. However, when it comes to communicating the importance of digital mapping to a diverse population, much is lost in translation. Through the use of online ArcGIS StoryMaps, we have created an interactive tour through the Tar Heel State that takes users through a short history of the organization and shows them how to best connect with the NCWF Community Wildlife Chapters in their area. The online ArcGIS StoryMaps tool acted as the proverbial Rosetta Stone in making this information palatable and resonating with the everyday internet user. The fact that this tool also allows for the use of photos permits us to put faces to names—reiterating that the chapter network is a living, breathing network made up of individuals who are passionate about the conservation, protection, and restoration of wildlife and habitat.