Extension Communications
3614 Administrative Services Building
Ames, Iowa 50011-3614
(515) 294-9915
3/6/01
Contacts:
Jason O'Brien, Department of Animal Ecology, 515/294-6440,
jpobrien@iastate.edu
Elaine Edwards, Continuing Education and Communication
Services, (515) 294-5168, eedwards@iastate.edu
Citizens Collect Wildlife Information Through New Program
AMES, Iowa -- NatureMapping is a new Iowa State University Extension program designed to give participants the "basics" of how to collect information on common wildlife species.
"There are not enough professionals, time or funding to conduct an inventory of all the nation's flora and fauna," according to Jason O'Brien, ISU Extension NatureMapping coordinator. "Long-term projects are scarce. One way to achieve the needed inventory is to involve an interested public in helping us."
The NatureMapping Program is a hands-on environmental education program. Iowa is the third state in the nation to implement the program. "Involving the public in 'finding the pieces of the puzzle' is what NatureMapping is all about," O'Brien said. "For now, we are concentrating on terrestrial vertebrate species of wildlife. In future years, we expect to add an aquatic module that includes mussels, a terrestrial invertebrate module, and eventually, a plant module." He added that the goal of the program is "to keep Iowa's common wildlife common."
Anyone interested in starting a NatureMapping project should plan to attend one of these workshops set around the state. Upcoming dates and locations are:
March 24 - Cerro Gordo County, NIACC Campus
April 28 - Mahaska County Conservation Board, Russell
Wildlife Area Conservation Center
May 12 -Dallas County Conservation Board, Kuehn Nature
Center (birding at 7:30 a.m. for those interested)
June 23 - Jackson County, Bellevue State Park
September 29 - Dickinson County, Lakeside Lab
For registration information, contact O'Brien at (515) 294-6440, at jpobrien@iastate.edu, or visit the NatureMapping Web site at www.naturemapping.state.ia.us.
"All types of people and groups can become involved. Individuals, schools and other community groups can all participate," O'Brien said. "Individuals can provide much needed data by recording wildlife observations around their home, when hiking, watching their feeders or other wildlife-related activities."
School participation can vary depending on the size and scope of the projects chosen. "The program can fulfill a valuable service to their community as well as engaging students in a related project of data collection and analysis," he added. Communities may wish to preserve or restore sites: a species diversity report card is the beginning framework on which to construct long-term plans. "Mapping species diversity is an important early step towards progressive community planning," he said.
ml: isufarm
Extension programs are available to all without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, or disability.