A brief introduction to GIS concepts and its role in conservation planning and design in the Southern Appalachian region. Slides used for a guest lecture in Intro GIS class (February 2011).

1. The Role of GisIn ConservationDesign and Sustainability Planning Case Study of Two Southern Appalachian Projects

3. GIS 101

4. Landscape Ecology & Green Infrastructure

5. Case studies of conservation and sustainable design: - Roan Highlands - Land of Sky

6. You are here

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11. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

12. A Look at a GIS

13. More Flavors of GIS

14. GIS on the Web

15. What is our Spatial Relationship to things we Value? Recreation Biodiversity Mineral, Forest, & Water Resources Aesthetic & Cultural Values

16. Where do We Like to Live? Chattanooga Atlanta

18. Managing ourselves and Resources?

20. Interstate Corridor – bedroom communities

21. Overall Southeast population growth evolution of a “Mega-region” – 68% increase in SE population by 2050** Center for Quality Growth and Regional Development (COGRD), Georgia Tech: http://hdl.handle.net/1853/13128

22. Housing Density Projections

23. The Disconnect: Planning Unsustainable growth causes permanent losses in: - ecological function - wildlife diversity - agricultural resources - hunting and recreation access - water quality - cultural identity

24. Impacting Resources

25. Green Infrastructure? Strategically planned, managed network Parks, preserves, conservation easements, greenways, and working lands Supports native species, maintains ecological processes Sustains air land, and water resources Contributes to health and quality of life

26. Principles of Landscape Ecology

27. Natural Connectivity of Resources

29. Where should we Direct Growth

30. Case Studies:Examples from Applied Conservation Planning or Green Infrastructure Assessment Projects

31. Roan Highlands Conservation Plan Carter County, TN Avery County, NC

32. A .Carroll 2008 A. Carroll 2008 A. Carroll 2008 Courtesy of Flickr

33. Courtesy of The Conservation Fund (National Geographic Society 1979) http://www.learnnc.org/lp/media/collections/nc/overmountain.jpg

34. Privately Owned Lands ~ 81% of total project area is private or not managed for resource conservation

35. Project Objectives Spatially define multi-state priority habitat Prioritize results with recreational and cultural datasets Make this data available to local government and SAHC

36. Land Cover Derived from Satellite Imagery and Aerial Photography

37. Selected Model & Parameters

38. Conservation Priorities

39. Linking Lands and Communities in the Land-of-Sky Region

40. Objectives Spatially define ecological, agricultural, recreational, and cultural resources Illustrate relationships, connectivity, and distribution across the landscape Use existing GIS datasets 35

43. Land Cover

47. Land Cover/Land Use

51. Identifies and values known biodiversity hot spots

55. In Summary We are all part of a much larger landscape GIS allows us to view our place within this landscape, while examining our relationship to natural resources and ecological functions Growth is comingto this region We can make better informed decisions on land use and sustainability through GIS and modeling methods such as “Green Infrastructure” assessments Goal is to direct growth in a way that protects the natural environment and cultural resources Allow for smart growth in less important places