Introducing the Conservation Geoportal
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Introducing the Conservation GeoPortal www.conservationmaps.org Discover and Publish Conservation Maps and Data A Shared Resource of the Conservation Commons The Conservation GeoPortal is the initial phase of the Conservation Basemap and Atlas of Conservation A collaborative effort to build, share, and communicate geospatial information for biodiversity conservation Initial Conservation Basemap Partners Problem Statement • Conservation data and maps are scattered and sequestered across thousands of groups and individuals • The availability and reliability of data for most places and themes are generally unknown • We lack detailed, complete, reliable data for many places and themes Components of Basemap Vision • Basemap - core datalayers collaboratively developed, managed, and peer reviewed • Atlas(es) - digital and print versions for different audiences and purposes • Catalog - comprehensive searchable catalog of GIS data and live map services (GeoPortal) Executed under the principles of the Conservation Commons www.conservationcommons.org PRINCIPLES OF THE CONSERVATION COMMONS Open Access The Conservation Commons promotes free and open access to data, information and knowledge for all conservation purposes. Mutual Benefit The Conservation Commons welcomes and encourages participants to both use resources and to contribute data, information and knowledge. Rights and Responsibilities Contributors to the Conservation Commons have full right to attribution for any uses of their data, information, or knowledge, and the right to ensure that the original integrity of their contribution to the Commons is preserved. Users of the Conservation Commons are expected to comply, in good faith, with terms of uses specified by contributors. Endorsers of the Conservation Commons American Museum of Natural History NASA ARKive: The Wildscreen Trust (UK) National Geographic Society BioNET-INTERNATIONAL Nature Protection Trust of Seychelles BirdLife International Nature Serve British Petroleum PALNet - Protected Areas Learning Network (from WCPA of IUCN) Centre for Sustainable Watersheds (Canada) Philippine Society for the Protection of Animals (Web link not available) Chevron-Texaco Red Hat Chevron-Texaco Specific Endorsement Letter Regional Centre for Devel. Cooperation ), Centre for Forestry and Governance, India CIFOR Réseau Africain pour la conservation de la Mangrove (RAM) CONABIO - Mexico Rio Tinto Conservation Biology Institute, USA Salim Ali Centre for Ornithilogy and Natural History (SACON-India) Conservation International Shell Exploration CRIA - Brazil Society for Conservation GIS DIDG Information Systems Ltd. (Australia) South African National Biodiversity Institute - SANBI Earth Conservation Toolbox The African Conservation Foundation Environmental Education Center - Russia "Zapoveniks" The Big Sky Conservation Institute Erawan Interactive: Digital Publishing The Natural History Museum, London ESRI – Environmental Systems Research Institute The Nature Conservancy ETI BioInformatics The Rainforest Alliance Fauna & Flora International The Smithsonian Institution Friends of Nature - Bolivia The World Conservation Union, Pakistan GBIF - Global Biodiversity Information Facility The Zoological Society of London Global Invasive Species Programme (GISP) TRAFFIC International Global Transboundary Protected Areas Network of IUCN TROPI-DRY: forest research network (based in U.Alberta) (Web site NEW) GreenFacts UNDP INBio, National Biodiversity Institute of Costa Rica UNEP WCMC Information Center for the Environment (ICE), U. of California, Davis UNESCO INSnet, Internetwork for Sustainability University of Maryland - Global Land Cover Facility Instituto de Biología, U.N.A.M. Mexico Wetlands of India (hosted by SACON-India) Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt Wild Bird Club of the Philippines International Center for Himalayan Biodiversity (link unavailable for now) Wildlife Conservation Society International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA of IUCN) Invasive Species Specialist Group of IUCN/SSC (Species Survival Comm.) WWF Brazil IUCN - The World Conservation Union WWF International My Nature (based in Romania) Conservation GeoPortal • Catalog of conservation GIS data and maps • Stores metadata records that describe and link to GIS data and maps online elsewhere • Can harvest existing metadata repositories • Includes built-in Map Viewer to display and combine live internet map services • Collaboratively developed and maintained What is the Conservation GeoPortal? Users d in C F o d D n n o n a w e g n c Y o l t Z l o a ta a nd a d C a U n Data providers h s rc d e a u e s control access to S e their data GIS Web Publish GIS data and services Services Data Servers GeoPortal Portals X FTP GIS GIS Data Data The GeoPortal GIS does not store Data the data Conservation GeoPortal Home Page www.conservationmaps.org Advanced Search Search Results – Downloadable Data Search Results – Live Maps Built-in Map Viewer Create, Save, and Share Maps Data Channels for Selected Content Terrestrial, Marine and Freshwater Content Partner Channels Available to groups that invest funds or labor e.g. TNC Channel Personal Account to Save and Contribute Upload or Create Metadata Records Manage Metadata Records View Edit Delete Download Check Onlink Register Metadata Repository Online Help System Metadata Resources GeoPortal Project Status • Designed by team from 14 orgs • Version 1.0 Sponsored by TNC & NGS • Developed and hosted by ESRI • Public launch in September (via listservs) • Content Campaign underway • Recruiting Partners and Channel Stewards • Editorial Team established GeoPortal Design Team • Ned Horning - AMNH • Frank Biasi - TNC • Kellee Koenig - CI • Danielle Conboy - TNC • John Musinsky - CI • Jon Fisher - TNC • Charles Convis - ESRI • Tyrone Guthrie - TNC • CJ Cote - ESRI • Diane Davies - UMD-Geography • Richard Lawrence - ESRI • Saurabh Channan - UMD-GLCF • Tom Hammond - IUCN • Paul Davis - UMD-GLCF • Lynn Kutner - NatureServe • Ian May - UNEP-WCMC • Lori Scott - NatureServe • Tim Bean - WCS • Allen Carroll - NGS • Jessica Forrest - WCS • Dan Cole - Smithsonian • Susan Minnemeyer - WRI • Ryan Valdez - Smithsonian • Nasser Olwero - WWF-US Thanks everyone!!! How can you Participate? • Use the site to find data and maps • Publish your data and maps • Provide feedback on the site • Discuss and promote the site • Help others contribute metadata • Become a Channel Steward Channel Stewardship • Stewards are knowledgeable about a conservation topic, especially the data and map services available for it • Channel Steward Responsibilities: – Discover the best data and map services in the theme – Encourage data providers to post metadata (or allow harvesting) – Organize channel content – Attach metadata records to the channel • Stewardship can be shared by several individuals • Channel Editor tool used to edit and organize content • Channels exist as XML files that are checked in and out Channel Editor Tool Issues Being Addressed • Institutional home: Administer funds and staff • Core staff: Executive Director/Editor, Administrator, and Channel Steward Coordinator • Core teams: Steering, Editorial, and Training • Sustainability model: 1. Philanthropy and large grants 2. Participatory investment model (i.e. Partners) 3. Sponsorship 4. Online donations Conservation Basemap Steering Committee • Charles Besancon – UNEP-WCMC • Frank Biasi – The Nature Conservancy • Allen Carroll – National Geographic • Patrick Halpin – Duke University/OBIS • Tom Hammond – IUCN • Roger Sayre – USGS • Larry Sugarbaker – NatureServe • recruiting others… Editorial and Curatorial Issues • Metadata review and approval • Trusted contributors • Channel creation, naming, organization • Channel Steward recruitment, training, support • Site design and enhancement • Harvesting process and policies • Metadata training and support Hosting Data and Map Services • Many groups need help posting their data online • They cannot afford map server administration • Some free hosting services exist: – Agency map and file servers – ConserveOnline workspaces – Regional GIS support centers –Universities – others?.. • We are trying to identify solutions. Any ideas?... Planned Enhancements • Major Content Campaign over next 6 months • Metadata training and peer support networks • Discussion groups and blogs • Peer review and rating capabilities • Experimental applications (GeoWiki, 3D Viewer) • Begin work on Conservation Basemap layers: – Protected Areas – Ecosystems – Conservation Project Areas –?.. Questions, Ideas, and Discussion… Use and contribute to the Conservation GeoPortal! www.conservationmaps.org.