Wildlife Mapping, Planning Tools Available Online in Three Western States
Register Now for Wildlife Council Meeting Nov. 3-4 in Seattle
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 22, 2011
Contact: Madeleine West 303-623-9378 ext. 125
DENVER -- The Western Governors' Association and its Wildlife Council announced today the online availability of three wildlife mapping tools that are designed to inform the pre-planning of large-scale energy, transportation and land-use projects regarding sensitive wildlife habitat.
"Many governors in Western states are working hard to promote new jobs and development, while recognizing the need to protect our wildlife and their habitat," Gov. Chris Gregoire said. "These tools help achieve our goals, and ensure that people planning development projects consider wildlife values early in their planning process. Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife, and all of the state efforts are to be congratulated."
The three wildlife mapping tools now available are:
- Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Crucial Habitat Planning System
http://fwp.mt.gov/fishAndWildlife/conservationInAction/crucialAreas.html - Washington's Department of Fish and Wildlife Priority Habitat and Species
http://wdfw.wa.gov/mapping/phs/ - The 5-State Southern Great Plains Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (Lesser Prairie Chicken) http://www.kars.ku.edu/maps/sgpchat/
"Wind energy development is a priority for the state and the nation. This wildlife information will help us develop energy in a manner that is sensitive to wildlife habitat needs," said Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin.
In addition to the individual state systems coming online now and over the next two years, the Wildlife Council is working to construct region-wide layers of crucial wildlife habitat information that is compatible across state lines. Those layers, as well as the state Crucial Habitat Assessment Tools (CHATs), will be the basis for a West-wide CHAT that the governors have asked the Wildlife Council to make available to the public in 2013.
Montana's wildlife system, which has been providing information to the public over the last year, has served as a model for other Western states to learn from in building their CHATs.
"We are using GIS technology in Montana to protect the best fish and wildlife habitat in the nation, and to provide predictability for development," said Montana Governor Brian Schweitzer. "I am very pleased to know that the hard work of folks here in Montana is useful to other states across the West as well."
The Western Governor's Wildlife Council will meet in Seattle on November 3-4 to review its progress and to examine how CHATs are being created and used across the region. Registration information and a preliminary agenda are now available at www.westgov.org/initiatives/wildlife.
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