Apps, Maps, and Data

Here you can find apps, maps, data, and decision support tools to support landscape-scale conservation planning and design.

Conservation planning is used to identify and prioritize landscapes with important natural and/or cultural resources (e.g., critical watersheds, habitat for rare or threatened species, grazing lands) and develop protection and management strategies for these places. Science is at the core of planning and is deeply informed by stakeholders who bring their on-the-ground knowledge and expertise.

The products of conservation planning can come in different forms, including maps that illustrate key landscapes, data layers that can be added into decision support tools, and spatial resources that show the quality and quantity of certain habitats. Natural resource managers and landowners alike can use maps and data to sustain working lands, support biodiversity, and improve landscape resilience.

Below are conservation planning tools, GIS and spatial data resources, and products from partners. You are welcome to use these resources in your own conservation and working lands efforts.

Bobscapes

The Bobscapes Mobile App will help researchers better understand population dynamics and help managers direct resources for habitat work to the areas where those investments will be most effective in recovering the species. Additionally, for those interested, the app will connect landowners to technical experts who can make habitat recommendations and share information on voluntary cost share programs. Lastly, the data provided will assist wildlife biologists in creating a national habitat network of “Bobwhite landscapes” necessary to ensure this species persists for future generations!

BirdLocale

USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service has partnered with the University of Georgia, Quail Forever, and state agencies to conduct an extensive study across 25 states of the USA to assess the impacts of management practices on the northern bobwhite population. As part of this project, biologists will be collecting field data like bobwhite counts, and percentage cover of different cover types (grass, shrub, forb, etc.). Apart from these human-collected data, these biologists will also be using Acoustic Recording Units (ARUs) to collect data on bird calls.

The Literature Gateway

Forest managers, wildlife conservation groups, policy makers, and other stakeholders often need to review literature on forest bird-vegetation relationships to inform decisions on natural resource management or ecosystem restoration. The literature gateway facilitates the exploration of this literature, helping users find references on a diverse range of management-relevant topics that have been compiled by subject experts based on searches of >60 different sources spanning the past 50+ years.

SE FireMap

The SE FireMap project aims to develop an improved fire mapping system in the Southeastern United States. This cohesive system will track both prescribed fire and wildfire activity on public and private lands and serve as a critical decision support tool to maximize the effectiveness of fire management practices.

Aqua Corridors Tool Suite

Explore a curated collection of high-quality datasets focused on aquatic conservation. The AquaCorridor: Data Layer Library brings together valuable data from agencies and NGOs, providing a comprehensive resource for environmental decision-making.

Bobscapes

The “Bobscapes” Mobile App will help researchers better understand population dynamics and help managers direct resources for habitat work to the areas where those investments will be most effective in recovering the species. Additionally, for those interested, the app will connect landowners to technical experts who can make habitat recommendations and share information on voluntary cost share programs. Lastly, the data provided will assist wildlife biologists in creating a national habitat network of “Bobwhite landscapes” necessary to ensure this species persists for future generations!

WLFW-GWWA Project Boundary Shapefiles

This map of the outer project boundary for the partnership excludes 3 states within the species range in Appalachia that declined to participate due to staff shortages and competing priorities. The image shows the WLFW-GWWA project boundary on a national map of WLFW partnership geographies.