Iowa NatureMapping

ABOUT US

A proactive approach is currently being applied throughout the US using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) by the National Gap Analysis Program. Gap Analysis focuses on maintaining populations of native species in their natural habitats. Satellite imagery is used 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 (relatively large geographic areas of land and water delineated by climate, vegetation, geology and other ecological and environmental patterns) 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.