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07 Apr 2010: Atlas of Global Conservation
Maps Planet’s Animals, Plants, Habitats

To mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, The Nature Conservancy is publishing The Atlas of Global Conservation, which presents a comprehensive picture of the planet’s animals, plants, and habitats and the threats they face. Based on information compiled by researchers and conservationists around the world, the atlas maps the health of habitats and species on each continent, illustrating where nature is most threatened and where it is thriving. For the first time, the atlas maps specific ecosystems, such as salt marshes and kelp forests worldwide, and depicts concentrations of freshwater birds, seabirds, and marine mammals. Each map is supported by a database, which is searchable at a one-kilometer scale. In compiling the atlas, The Nature Conservancy received contributions from more than 70 research institutions and consulted scientific archives and Google maps. “It was easy to get data for the United States, parts of Australia, Europe,” said Jonathan Hoekstra, lead author of the atlas. “But for Russia? Latin America? The team had to be creative in finding those experts.” The atlas will be published April 22, but an interactive version is available online.

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