Protected Areas
Most biodiversity questions start with where? Protected areas data are necessary to understand the existing U.S. network and plan for the future. Mapped protected areas inform SAS biodiversity science activities that focus on a landscape-level understanding of ecosystems.
The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) is a core geospatial database used by SAS in biodiversity assessments. PAD-US data are also used in planning response to wildfires, identifying effective policies for energy and habitat conservation, guiding people to recreational opportunities, and informing public health research. These protected areas data also provide foundational information in the USGS National Biogeographic Map developed by SAS.
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Gap Analysis Project (GAP)
GAP provides data to assess effects of land management by providing information on where species and natural communities occur and how they are being managed. "Gap analysis" assesses how well we are protecting common plants and animals by identifying the degree to which animal species and plant communities are under-represented on protected lands such as parks and refuges.
Related Content
Gap Analysis Project (GAP)
GAP provides data to assess effects of land management by providing information on where species and natural communities occur and how they are being managed. "Gap analysis" assesses how well we are protecting common plants and animals by identifying the degree to which animal species and plant communities are under-represented on protected lands such as parks and refuges.