Download GIS and Conservation

GIS and Conservation
University of Birmingham
23rd February 2016
Dr. Ian Thornhill
Outline
• Why and what is GIS?
• Basic GIS functions (GIS packages)
• Levels of use in conservation
– Visualisation / data management
– Communication
– Data gathering / fieldwork
– Temporal change (Case study)
– Spatial planning (post-GIS) (Case study)
– Geospatial modelling (post-GIS)
Why GIS?
What is GIS?
‘A geographic information system (GIS) lets us visualise,
question, analyze and interpret data to understand
[spatial] relationships, patterns, and trends.’
ESRI, 2016
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To improve record keeping (e.g. Biological records)
To improve communication (e.g. Landowner liaison)
To facilitate better decision-making (e.g. Development control)
To improve efficiency (e.g. Reserve selection)
To manage geographically
GIS in conservation
• Conservation is now practiced at large,
landscape scales
‘more, bigger, better and joined’
GIS in conservation
• Conservation is now practiced at large,
landscape scales i.e. ‘landscape scale
conservation’
• Conservation has moved from single species
approaches to ecosystems e.g. Habitat based /
ecosystem services
• Conservation is most effective where it
respects the physical and socio-economic
environment
GIS in conservation
From this
To this
To tackle big (global) problems
Ecology and Evolution
What are the evolutionary consequences of species
becoming less connected through fragmentation or
more connected through globalization?
Populations
What are the evolutionary and ecological
mechanisms that govern species’ range margins?
Communities and Diversity
How do spatial and temporal environmental
heterogeneity influence diversity at different
scales?
Human Impacts and Global Change
Under what circumstances do landscape structures
such as corridors and stepping stones play
important roles in the distribution and abundance
of species?
Vectors
Basic GIS functions
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Point e.g. Species sighting
Polyline e.g. River
Polygon e.g. Woodland
Image e.g. Aerial image
Raster
Freely available satellite data
LANDSAT 15-30m, 16 days
repeat
SRTM (30m, 1m)
GIS packages
Freeware
Proprietary
QGIS (Quantum GIS)
http://www.qgis.org/
ESRI (ArcGIS etc.)
https://www.arcgis.com
GRASS
https://grass.osgeo.org/
MapInfo
http://www.pitneybowes.com/
SAGA
ENVI
Capaware
ERDAS IMAGINE
+many more...
+many more...
GIS packages
GIS software heatmap
http://gisgeography.com/mapping-out-gis-software-landscape/
GIS packages
Price (licensing) Proprietary
(likely to be organisational)
Free!
Data input
Less flexibile but more simplistic
Very flexible (70+ formats) but
requires prior knowledge
Browser
(ArcCatalog)
Apply own standards
(QGIS Browser)
Less personalisation
Online (free)
data
Wide range through ArcGIS online (e.g.
2887 for ‘environment’)
Less variety through plugins
Plugins
Huge range (some £, some free)
Wide range and can support GRASS
and SAGA
Tutorials
Bespoke, professional
Not always available but huge
support community
Outputs
Intuitive layout view
QGIS Composer, less user-friendly
3D analyses
ArcGlobe, ArcScene
Less ‘polished’ plugins
Editing
Many basic and advanced editing tools
Fewer tools, but most bases covered
Varying levels of use
• Visualisation / data management
Visualisation / data management
Scientific
Alcedo atthis
Alcedo atthis
Alcedo atthis
Anas clypeata
Anas strepera
Apus apus
Arvicola amphibius
Aspicilia contorta subsp. hoffmanniana
Chiroptera
Chiroptera
Chiroptera
Chiroptera
Delichon urbicum
Delichon urbicum
Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine
Epipactis helleborine
Erinaceus europaeus
Erinaceus europaeus
Euphorbia exigua
Falco peregrinus
Falco peregrinus
Falco peregrinus
Falco peregrinus
Falco peregrinus
Falco peregrinus
Falco peregrinus
Falco peregrinus
Falco tinnunculus
Falco tinnunculus
Falco tinnunculus
Common_Nam
Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Kingfisher
Shoveler
Gadwall
Swift
European Water Vole
lichen
a bat
a bat
a bat
a bat
House Martin
House Martin
Broad-leaved Helleborine
Broad-leaved Helleborine
Broad-leaved Helleborine
Broad-leaved Helleborine
West European Hedgehog
West European Hedgehog
Dwarf Spurge
Peregrine
Peregrine
Peregrine
Peregrine
Peregrine
Peregrine
Peregrine
Peregrine
Kestrel
Kestrel
Kestrel
Abundance
Grid_Ref
Date
Designatio
Easting Northing
Present present
SP04108321 21/12/2005 BAmb, WCA1i
404100 283210
1 present
SP04448327 28/07/2011 BAmb, WCA1i
404440 283270
1 feeding
SP05148319 20/10/2015 BAmb, WCA1i
405140 283190
Present present
SP054841
2007
BAmb
405400 284100
Present present
SP054841
2007
BAmb
405400 284100
Present present
SP03998313 08/07/2009 BAmb
403990 283130
present
SP041832
04/04/2007 MS_Status_Dec, Sect.41, UKBAP,
404100
WCA5/9.1k/I,
283200
present
SP0483
15/09/2009 NR-excludes, RLGB.DD
404000 283000
1 Adult; 4 present; In in flightSP054841
22/08/2007 LBAP
405400 284100
1 in flight
SP0500083000 04/06/2009 LBAP
405000 283000
1 in flight
SP0500083000 25/06/2009 LBAP
405000 283000
1 in flight
SP0500083000 27/07/2009 LBAP
405000 283000
Present present
SP03998313 08/07/2009 BAmb
403990 283130
Present feeding
SP04058305 09/05/2010 BAmb
404050 283050
1 present
SP04388264 25/07/2008 LBAP
404380 282640
1 present
SP04338276 31/07/2008 LBAP
404330 282760
1 present
SP04408263 31/07/2008 LBAP
404400 282630
3 present
SP04048311 26/07/2014 LBAP
404040 283110
1 dead
SP04578261 Nov-08
MS_Status_Dec, Sect.41, UKBAP
404570 282610
1 dead
SP0502283126 01/10/2014 MS_Status_Dec, Sect.41, UKBAP
405022 283126
rare present
SP05248385 18/07/2007 RLGB.Lr(NT)
405240 283850
Present juvenile
SP04288387 08/08/2005 WCA1i
404280 283870
1 pair adult
SP04288387 08/08/2005 WCA1i
404280 283870
1 pair present
SP04808354 18/01/2007 WCA1i
404800 283540
1 male
SP04808354 Nov-07
WCA1i
404800 283540
Present present
SP04808354 17/04/2008 WCA1i
404800 283540
1 Adult; 2 young; Proved Breeding
SP04808354
confirmed04/06/2014 WCA1i
404800 283540
1 feeding
SP0491183782 08/08/2014 WCA1i
404911 283782
Present in flight
SP04808354 February 2007WCA1i
- March 2007
404800 283540
Present hunting
SP04058305 03/07/2006 BAmb, LBAP
404050 283050
1 hunting
SP041829
14/08/2006 BAmb, LBAP
404100 282900
Present present
SP042831
03/11/2006 BAmb, LBAP
404200 283100
Visualisation / data management
Visualisation / data management
www.magic.gov.uk
Varying levels of use
• Visualisation / data management
• Communication
Communication
• Visualisation helps us to interpret and extract
meaning
• Transcends barriers in nomenclature and
language
• Maps simultaneously contribute visual, spatial,
and geospatial knowledge to inform their
viewers
• For example, major rail developments such as
East West Rail, High Speed Rail
East West Rail
Communication
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqivkApiMdM
Communication
East West Rail (biodiversity net-positive events)
Data gathering / fieldwork
• Visualisation / data management
• Communication
• Data gathering / fieldwork
Data gathering / fieldwork
JNCC, (2010),
Handbook for Phase 1
habitat survey - a
technique for
environmental audit,
ISBN 0 86139 636 7
http://www.cecenvironment.co.uk/
• GIS in order to:
– Quantify habitat cover
– Clarify species location
– Provide context
– Inform development
www.commonvision.com
Data gathering / fieldwork
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Provide a plan showing the ecological features
referred to in the report (normally based on a
Phase 1 habitat map or equivalent in
Ireland37).
It may be appropriate to provide other
plans/figures to show the locations of specific
ecological features referred to in the report.
It can be helpful to overlay the scheme layout
or parameter plans with the ecological
features.'
National and local policy now requiring
greater accountability of environmental
impacts.
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National Planning Policy Framework
Biodiversity Code of Practice (BS42020)
Data gathering / fieldwork
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Provide a plan showing the ecological features
referred to in the report (normally based on a
Phase 1 habitat map or equivalent in
Ireland37).
It may be appropriate to provide other
plans/figures to show the locations of specific
ecological features referred to in the report.
It can be helpful to overlay the scheme layout
or parameter plans with the ecological
features.
Data gathering / fieldwork
Varying levels of use
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Visualisation / data management
Communication
Data gathering / fieldwork
Temporal change
Temporal change
• Mapping historical changes in things such as:
– Species distributions
– Land-use change e.g. Urbanisation / agricultural
intensification
– Climatic patterns
– Habitat loss / change
• To gain a better understanding of the present,
by reviewing the past
Temporal change
Example: Pond network change over 100 years
• Pond-dwelling organisms live in isolated habitats within an unsuitable matrix
• How has urbanisation impacted the pond network ‘pondscape’?
• What might the implications be for pond-dwelling organisms?
• Land-use change, habitat loss, stepping stones, urbanisation
ca1904*
ca1962
2009 (pond = black)
*Note the lack of annotation in the ca1904 map
1
Temporal change
Example: Pond network change over 100 years
Thornhill, I., Batty, L., Friberg, N., Ledger, M. Significant net habitat loss within a pond network during urbanisation over 105
years: Impacts to network resilience and implications for freshwater biodiversity. (in prep.)
Temporal change
Example: Pond network change over 100 years
• What might the implications be for the great crested newt (Triturus cristatus)?
• Typically disperses 250m
• Occasional movements up to
1km
• Requires a pond network to
maintain a meta-population
• Can investigate using graph (or
network) theory
Likes: Scrub, hedgerows
Dislikes: Urban areas, fish
Temporal change
Example: Pond network change over 100 years (graph theory)
– With a 1500m dispersal threshold
ca1904
2009
Thornhill, I. (2013) Water quality, biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in ponds across an urban land-use gradient in
Birmingham, UK. PhD Thesis. University of Birmingham,
Varying levels of use
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Visualisation / data management
Communication
Data gathering / fieldwork
Temporal change
Spatial planning (post-GIS)
Spatial planning
Or species
points
• Physical and socio-economic
environment
polylines
polygons
raster
Given that money for biodiversity
protection is limited, where should it
be invested for maximum benefit?
raster
• Systematic Conservation
Planning
– e.g. Marxan, CLUZ, Zonation
Systematic conservation planning
Given that money for biodiversity protection is limited,
where should it be invested for maximum benefit?
• Habitat conservation is the only way to maintain
viable populations of most species, maintain
evolutionary processes and maintain ecosystem
services.
• For conservation areas to be successful, sites
need to be chosen carefully, ensuring
representation of species and habitat types, and
designed such that species can persist.
Traditional conservation planning
• Scenic or recreational value
• Single species
• Negative conservation (i.e. Unsuitable for
anything else!)
• Services e.g. Catchment based
• Scoring methods based on the above
.....1 + 2 = 1.5 (inefficient representation)
Systematic conservation planning
• Recognises a need to be efficient (given
competing demands)
– Based on complementarity
– Incorporates connectivity
• Is target driven e.g.
– # of protected species
– # proportion of each habitat type
– Outputs inform decision-making, iterative
• A GIS database is the foundation to this process
• Marxan demonstration video
‘How to choose marine reserves’
See: http://marxan.net/media.html
What data to conserve bats?
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Biological records
Species distribution
Land-owners
Habitat distribution
Habitat suitability
Movement corridors
Lighting impacts
Barriers (e.g. Roads)
Future development plans
Protected sites
Land-use
Climate change?
People (supporters / conflicts)
Autoecology
Competing species (?)
Regional / global distribution
What information is needed?
GIS database
Geospatial modelling
Walker R.S. and Craighead L. 1997. Analyzing wildlife movement corridors in Montana using GIS. Proceedings of the 1997
International ESRI Users Conference. Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Redlands, California.
Varying levels of use
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Visualisation / data management
Communication
Data gathering / fieldwork
Temporal change
Spatial planning (post-GIS)
Geospatial modelling (post-GIS)
Geospatial modelling
• Species distribution
modelling
– Maxent
(http://www.cs.princeton.edu
/~schapire/maxent/)
– DesktopGarp
– http://www.nhm.ku.edu/desk
topgarp/
Geospatial modelling
• Connectivity modelling
– Circuitscape
– (http://www.circuitscape.org)
– Conefor Sensinode
– (http://www.conefor.org/)
– Least-Cost path analysis
– E.g. ArcGIS
Why GIS?
“The application of GIS is limited only by
the imagination of those who use it”.
Jack Dangermond, Esri
“Everything is related to everything else,
but near things are more related than
distant things.”
Tobler’s First Law of Geography
“Everything happens somewhere.”
Anonymous
Summary
• GIS is a geographical data management system
• There are many available data that can be stored
within a GIS from field surveys, remote sensing
(satellite data) and historical data
• GIS can be used as an effective information and
communication tool
• GIS is at the heart of powerful conservation
strategies
• GIS is increasing in importance as conservation is
based on a regional, if not global scale
Some useful resources
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http://gisgeography.com/qgis-arcgis-differences/ (Pro’s and Con’s of ArcGIS and QGIS)
http://www.cieem.net/data/files/Publications/EcIA_Guidelines_Terrestrial_Freshwat
er_and_Coastal_Jan_2016.pdf (CIEEM Ecological Impact Assessment Guidelines)
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/making-space-for-nature-a-review-ofenglands-wildlife-sites-published-today (Making Space for Nature)
https://www.scgis.org/ (Society for Conservation GIS)
http://gisgeography.com/best-free-gis-data-sources-raster-vector/ (free global data)
http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/ (free global data)
Many Systematic conservation planning tools:
• C-Plan http://www.edg.org.au/resources/free-tools/cplan/87-c-plansoftware.html
• WorldMap http://www.nhm.ac.uk/research-curation/projects/worldmap/
• Marxan http://uq.edu.au/marxan/
• ResNet & MultCSync http://uts.cc.utexas.edu/~consbio/Cons/Labframeset.html
• Zonation http://www.helsinki.fi/science/metapop/index.htm