In 1999, the program was expanded into Cerro Gordo, Iowa, Poweshiek and Webster counties, thanks to a grant from the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture and support from ISU's animal ecology department. Another six counties were added in 2000. Volunteers have seeded new prairie areas, cleared brush at the Neal Smith Prairie Learning Center and worked at recycling centers. The Iowa NatureMapping program got underway in 1998 to help inventory wildlife. The program is a supplement to the U.S. Geological Survey's Gap Analysis Program, which matches habitat with fauna, identifying habitats devoid of the expected wildlife.
Volunteers add a much needed layer of data.
This is real science, and participants are contributing good, solid data. Eleven NatureMapping workshops have been held, with 148 people trained in geographic location, sampling techniques and data submission. A Web site makes it possible for volunteers to submit, view and analyze their data, plus data collected by others. Advanced training workshops, plus additional basic workshops, are planned this year. Pease says a major benefit of the two programs is getting people involved.