. . . the outreach component of GAP

• The NatureMapping Program in Washington
• The NatureMapping Program in Iowa
• Nature Mapping in Idaho
• WildlifeMapping in Virginia
• NatureMapping in Wisconsin
• NatureMapping in Oregon

The goal of NatureMapping  is to involve local communities in the GAP program, by training individuals to monitor and map the species around them, and by providing tools to inventory and report their observations. While NatureMapping works primarily through schools, other communities can undertake projects as well. 

NatureMapping grew out of the idea that to promote biodiversity, people need to gain a greater understanding of the connections between themselves and the animals, plants, insects, water and soil around them. By teaching people to record and report the plants and animals they see, and by using that data to document where species occur;  NatureMapping helps strenghthen people's connections to nature. NatureMapping also helps build connections between scientists and non-scientists.

NatureMapping uses individual observation to create maps showing actual observations and predicted distributions. 

Projects are planned for most states, in addition to the programs listed above. To see how you can get involved, visit the Washington NatureMapping Program's national mapping page.

To Learn More

2004 National NatureMapping Meeting

 

Presentations

WildlifeMapping: Status of Volunteer Wildlife Monitoring Data in Virginia - This presentation was given at the 2000 annual meeting of The Wildlife Society in Nashville, Tennessee. "Speaker notes" are included with each slide to provide additional information about the data or discussion points presented therein.

Educational Modules

The NatureMapping Biodiversity Modules  - These biodiversity modules have been created by the Washington NatureMapping Program to help participants 'visualize' how the program works. Every component of the world around us is tied to the other. The biological cycles of the world respond to natural changes and changes imposed by development.