About the Data
© Jack Looney About the Data Guidelines Featured Image
Dozens of groups are already contributing data about conservation issues to LandScope. We welcome further data contributions as we continue to expand the website.
Data Sources and Metadata
To Contribute Data
Spatial Data Included on LandScope
Data Use Guidelines
Data Sources and Metadata
LandScope America brings together data layers from many sources and makes them easily accessible to the public without the need for dedicated GIS software or skills. The content available on our map viewer is carefully selected and administered. We do not attempt to provide an exhaustive collection of all data available for any geographic area; existing data portals already provide this function for GIS users. Rather, we present a useful set of relevant data layers that provide insight into conservation issues without overwhelming you with information overload. In many cases, the data sets have been simplified and more detailed data and additional context is provided on the websites of our content partners.
The data provided come from public as well as private sources. We strive to include information that is credible, science-based, and of broad use or interest to the conservation community. Omission of any data layer from LandScope does not imply that we consider it less valuable than others.
Information about each data layer is found in the Map Key and Credits box, at the top left of the map viewer. Here you’ll find a list of the data layers shown, the source of the data, and links to the metadata for each layer. Each source has voluntarily provided their data to LandScope America and is responsible for its accuracy and completeness. Specific questions, concerns, or comments about individual datasets should be directed to the data provider listed in the metadata. Similarly, if you are interested in acquiring and using any dataset, please request permission directly from the data provider.
To Contribute Data
Dozens of groups are already contributing data about conservation issues to LandScope, and we welcome further data contributions as we continue to expand the website. During our beta period, we are not yet ready to accept GIS data directly via the website, although we may offer a way to automate this function in the future. In the meantime, if you have spatial data that you would like to see included on LandScope, please contact us directly using the Contact Us form so that we can discuss your data set with you. We’ll provide detailed instructions about the metadata requirements at that time.
Spatial Data Included on LandScope
The map viewer currently includes spatial data on five themes: Protected Areas, Conservation Priorities, Threats, Plants and Animals, and Ecosystems. We provide here a list of all the spatial data layers currently available for each theme. More data layers will be added in future releases (including Reference Layers, and Recreation and Exploration).
Protected Areas Theme
Protected Areas by Ownership, Nationwide
Conservation Priorities Theme
Multi-State Prioritizations
- State Wildlife Action Plans
- North American Grassland Priority Conservation Areas (CEC)
- American Wildlands Priority Linkages
- Critical Watersheds for Freshwater Species (NatureServe)
- Ecoregional Portfolio (Nature Conservancy)
Colorado
(website steward: Colorado Natural Heritage Program)- Animal Movement Corridors (SREP)
- Potential Conservation Areas (NHP)
- Network Conservation Areas (NHP)
- High Priority Habitats on Private Lands (CDOW)
- SREP Network
Florida
(website steward: Florida Natural Areas Inventory)- Critical Lands and Waters (CLIP)
- Rare Species Habitat Conservation Priorities v.3
- Florida Ecological Greenways
- Strategic Habitat Conservation Areas
- Significant Surface Waters v.3
Maine
(website stewards: Maine Natural Areas Program and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)- Beginning with Habitat Focus Areas
Virginia
(website steward: Virginia Division of Natural Heritage)- Virginia Biodiversity Assessment
- Natural Landscape Assessment
- Tier 1 Essential Habitat
- Tier 1 and 2 Essential Habitat
Washington
(website steward: Washington Natural Heritage Program)- NHP 2007 Plan Priorities
- Conservation Opportunity Areas
- Important Bird Areas
- State Wildlife Action Plan
Threats Theme
National Data Layers
- Projected Housing Density 2030
- Housing Density 2000
- Housing Density 1970
- Climate Change Stress Index
Colorado
(website steward: Colorado Natural Heritage Program)- Wind Farms
- Active Surface Mines
- Inactive Surface Mines
- Active Oil/Gas wells
- Inactive Oil/Gas wells
- Major Roads
- Landscape Integrity
Florida
(website steward: Florida Natural Areas Inventory)- Invasive Plants on Public Lands
- Bear Roadkill 1976-2006
- Florida Projected Population Growth
Washington
(website steward: Washington Natural Heritage Program)- Water Quality Assessment
- Wind Power Resource Estimates
Plants and Animals Theme
Federally Listed or Imperiled Plant and Animal Species, Nationwide
- Number of Federally Listed or Imperiled Species by County
- Number of Federally Listed or Imperiled Species by County
- Number of Federally Listed or Imperiled Species by County
- Number of Federally Listed or Imperiled Species by Watershed
- Number of Federally Listed or Imperiled Species by Hexagons
Species Richness, Nationwide
- Vertebrate Species Richness
- Amphibian Species Richness
- Bird Species Richness
- Mammal Species Richness
- Reptile Species Richness
Colorado
(website steward: Colorado Natural Heritage Program)- Elk Migration Patterns
- Elk Migration Corridors
- Pronghorn Migration Patterns
- Pronghorn Migration Corridors
- Pronghorn Concentration Area
- Pronghorn Winter Range
- Bighorn Migration Patterns
- Bighorn Migration Corridors
- Bighorn Production Area
- Bighorn Summer Concentration Area
- Bighorn Winter Concentration Area
- River Otter Concentration Area
- Bald Eagle Nest Sites
- Least Tern Production Area
- Lesser Prairie Chicken Production Area
- Greater Prairie Chicken Production Area
- Plains Sharp-tailed Grouse Production Area
- Columbian Sharp-tailed Grouse Production Area
- Greater Sage Grouse Production Area
- Gunnison's Sage Grouse Production Area
Florida
(website steward: Florida Natural Areas Inventory)- Florida Blazing Star
- Gopher Tortoise
- Red-cockaded Woodpecker
- Florida Scrub-Jay
- Florida Torreya
Maine
(website stewards: Maine Natural Areas Program and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)- Atlantic Salmon Spawning and Rearing Habitat
- Seabird Nesting Islands
- Bald Eagle Nest Sites
- Piping Plover and Least Tern Nesting Areas
- Roseate Tern Nesting Areas
Virginia
(website steward: Virginia Division of Natural Heritage)- Anadromous Fish Habitat
- Trout Stream Reaches
- Important Bird Areas
- Appalachian Monkeyface Pearly Mussel
- Candy Darter
- Eastern Hellbender
- Mole Salamander
- American Oystercatcher
Washington
(website steward: Washington Natural Heritage Program)- Priority Conservation Species & Habitats
Ecosystems Theme
National Data Layers
- Land Cover
- Vegetation/Land Cover (medium scale)
- Ecological Systems (fine scale)
Colorado
(website steward: Colorado Natural Heritage Program)- Alpine Tundra
- Aspen
- Colorado Plateau Pinyon-Juniper
- Lodgepole
- Oak-Mixed Mountain Shrub
- Ponderosa
- Sagebrush
- Sandsage
- Shortgrass Prairie
- Spruce-Fir
- Southern Rockies Pinyon-Juniper
Florida
(website steward: Florida Natural Areas Inventory)- Under-protected Natural Communities
- Historical Vegetation (Davis 1967)
- Vegetation
- Wetlands
Maine
(website stewards: Maine Natural Areas Program and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife)- Major Wetlands (USGS 1:100K)
- Major Wetlands (Sewall 1:50K)
- Large Areas of Interior Forest
Washington
(website steward: Washington Natural Heritage Program)- Historical Vegetation, 1936
- Terrestrial Ecoregions
Data Use Guidelines
Use of Graphics: We encourage the use of maps and charts presented on the website for educational and conservation purposes. While we intend to implement the ability for you to copy graphics directly from the site in an upcoming release, currently you can request low-res copies of such graphics, for use in presentations only, by contacting our Partnership and Outreach Coordinator. The source information as listed on the graphic must be included and the graphics may not be altered in any way.
To republish any graphics in publications, on websites, or elsewhere, written permission from NatureServe is required. Again, please contact our Partnership and Outreach Coordinator. In some cases, other organizations are the data sources and we may not have permission to grant third-party use.
Copyright Notice: Copyright © 2008 NatureServe, 1101 Wilson Boulevard, 15th Floor, Arlington Virginia 22209, U.S.A. All Rights Reserved. Each document delivered from this website may contain other proprietary notices and copyright information relating to that document.
Restrictions on Use: Permission to use, copy and distribute documents delivered from this website is hereby granted under the following conditions:
- The above copyright notice must appear in all copies.
- Any use of the documents must be for informational purposes only and in no instance for commercial purposes.
- No graphics available from this website can be used, copied or distributed separate from the accompanying text embedded with that graphic file.
- Any rights not expressly granted herein are reserved by NatureServe. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel, or otherwise any license or right under any trademark of NatureServe. No trademark owned by NatureServe may be used in advertising or promotion pertaining to the distribution of documents delivered from this website without specific advance permission from NatureServe. Except as expressly provided above, nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring any license or right under any NatureServe copyright.
Information Warranty Disclaimer: All documents and related graphics provided by this website and any other documents which are referenced by or linked to this website are provided “as is” without warranty as to the currentness, completeness, or accuracy of any specific data. NatureServe and National Geographic hereby disclaim all warranties and conditions with regard to any documents provided by this website or any other documents which are referenced by or linked to this website, including but not limited to all implied warranties and conditions of merchantibility, fitness for a particular purpose, and non-infringement. NatureServe and National Geographic make no representations about the suitability of the information delivered from this website or any other documents that are referenced or linked to. In no event shall NatureServe or National Geographic be liable for any special, indirect, incidental, consequential damages, or for damages of any kind arising out of or in connection with the use or performance of information contained in any documents provided by this server or in any other documents which are referenced or linked to. NatureServe and National Geographic may update or make changes to the documents provided by this website at any time without notice; however, we make no commitment to update the information contained herein.
The data provided are for planning, assessment, and informational purposes. Site-specific projects or activities should be reviewed for potential environmental impacts with appropriate regulatory agencies. If ground-disturbing activities are proposed on a site, the appropriate state natural heritage program(s) or conservation data center can be contacted for a site-specific review of the project area (for a contact list, see the NatureServe directory of U.S. member programs).
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