Broadening our mapping strategies to incorporate “sense of place” maps allows American Wildlands to connect with a wider crosssection of conservation interests. AWL map of the Rocky Mountain Front.

In past articles about AWL’s Community GIS Services program, we have highlighted some of the state-of-the art computer analysis and mapmaking work we have done to help inform and strengthen the conservation policy work of others. Whether addressing roadless area protection, native fish conservation, oil and gas development, or motorized recreation, our community GIS work has almost exclusively focused on providing products for a particular conservation need, outcome or agenda.

We recently broadened our GIS mapping efforts beyond supporting a conservation “agenda” to include products that help create a conservation “sense of place.” Rather than provide technical information about a threat to wildlife and their habitat, these “sense of place” maps present a picture of the land and its values through the use of topography, landmarks, geographic features, and the like. Rather than being presented in a court of law or to an agency decision-maker, these maps are meant to be shared at the local grocery store or interpretive center.

Strategically speaking, we are very excited about this new focus for American Wildlands’ Community GIS Services program. What makes this most interesting to me is that it is born from an understanding that increasing a person’s appreciation for a place is the first step toward that person taking action on behalf of that place. I see this expansion as having two great benefits to American Wildlands.

First, it provides AWL and other conservationists an opportunity to remember the special aspects of the places for which we are advocating. Second, this expanded focus provides us an opportunity to connect with a broader slice of the “community,” as we seek to tell the “shared values” story of why a place is special to all of the people who live there.

American Wildlands is currently working on two projects which illustrate this approach: one with The Wilderness Society focusing on the Rocky Mountain Front, and the other in Cody, Wyoming with the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. The “sense of place” map we developed for the Rocky Mountain Front is driven by the Save the Front Coalition, a broad-based partnership between the region’s local businesses, native community members, sportsmen, and The Wilderness Society. The map highlights the multi-faceted attractions of “The Front,” from dinosaur and Indian cultural museums and sites, to popular scenic hikes and wildlife viewing areas.

Ultimately, we believe this new Community GIS focus will help American Wildlands’ efforts by building bridges and increasing our engagement with a wider diversity of conservation interests, as we collectively connect to the land we care about through these “sense of place” maps.