Day: September 20, 2012

Spatial Analysis of Conservation Priorities Based on Ecosystem Services in the Atlantic Forest Region of Misiones, Argentina

/ Matt Artz

Forests 2012, 3(3)

Andrea E. Izquierdo and Matthew L. Clark

“Understanding the spatial pattern of ecosystem services is important for effective environmental policy and decision-making. In this study, we use a geospatial decision-support tool (Marxan) to identify conservation priorities for habitat and a suite of ecosystem services (storage carbon, soil retention and water yield) in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest from Misiones, Argentina—an area of global conservation priority. Using these results, we then evaluate the efficiency of existing protected areas in conserving both habitat and ecosystem services.

Maps of the analyzed ecosystem services.

Maps of the analyzed ecosystem services.

“Selected areas for conserving habitat had an overlap of carbon and soil ecosystem services. Yet, selected areas for water yield did not have this overlap. Furthermore, selected areas with relatively high overlap of ecosystem services tended to be inside protected areas; however, other important areas for ecosystem services (i.e., central highlands) do not have legal protection, revealing the importance of enforcing existing environmental regulations in these areas.”

Free Book from URISA: Foundations of Urban and Regional Information Systems and Geographic Information Systems and Science

/ Matt Artz / 1 Comment

Foundations of Urban and Regional Information Systems and Geographic Information Systems and ScienceURISA is pleased to announce the publication of Foundations of Urban and Regional Information Systems and Geographic Information Systems and Science, a 300-page book assembled to celebrate URISA’s 50th anniversary conference. Sponsored by URISA past presidents, the commemorative book discusses some of the research, education, training, and applications foundations that URISA and its members have contributed to urban and regional information systems and geographic information systems and science during the past five decades. The dozens of contributors to this publication, bring their experiences from governments at all levels, private sector firms, research institutes, and universities, represent the ‘Who’s Who’ of influencers in the field.

Dr. Barry Wellar, GISP (President, Wellar Consulting Inc., retired Professor, University of Ottawa, URISA President 1977-1978 and member of URISA’s GIS Hall of Fame) served as publication Editor and coordinated the effort. “The sum of the matter as I see it, is that URISA has an amazingly rich history, and the right people were in the right place at the right time to prepare a book which delves into that record of achievement, and does considerable justice to the many individuals, agencies, ideas, initiatives, etc., that have made URISA the leading international organization in the field of urban and regional information systems and geographic information systems and science. URISA has a long and rich history of producing substantive documents, and I am optimistic that Foundations will be recognized as an important legacy of URISA’s 50th anniversary conference.”

Each of the 23 chapters in Foundations of Urban and Regional Information Systems and Geographic Information Systems and Science contains insights, ideas, suggestions, lessons learned, lessons to be learned, and recommendations regarding information system education, research, training, and application.

The book is currently available, for free, as a downloadable file on URISA’s website, www.urisa.org/foundations, and printed copies, supported with funding from Esri, will be available for purchase at GIS-Pro 2012: URISA’s 50th Annual Conference for GIS Professionals (September 30-October 4, 2012 in Portland, Oregon). Many of the contributing authors will be in attendance and it is anticipated that a book signing event will take place during the conference. Further, the publication will be celebrated in a conference plenary session on Thursday morning, October 4. Visit www.urisa.org/gispro2012 for details about GIS-Pro 2012.

[Source: URISA press release]