Wild Animals Get Website

The Arizona Game and Fish Department has launched a novel website to map the wildlife and conservation potential of Arizona. The point of the wildlife and habitat mapping is to provide information for planners to avoid construction of infrastructure or buildings too close to natural habitat critical to the survival of wild animals. The new website also allows conservationists to monitor animal populations and their distribution. Additionally, it can be used by students to learn about conservation.

Development is one of the main sources of stress for wild animals because it takes over their habitat, subjects them to vehicle traffic resulting in fatalities and injuries, diverts water, and adds disturbing sound levels not normally found in nature. Arizona has more than 800 species of wildlife, so having a central repository of data with many different layers will be helpful in prioritizing conservation strategy. The state’s human population is expected to grow from today’s level of 6.4 million to 10 million by 2030, so careful planning to conserve wildlife and habitat is crucial.

“HabiMap is a critical outreach program. In addition to biologists and land planners, this can educate young students of how to help in conservation efforts for generations to come. Just like cell phones and computers, it will become second nature to them. When you’re watching a wildlife program on television, you’re often seeing how animals from other countries are threatened. When you get to see it up close and personal, it makes a difference,” said Sandy Cate, a Game and Fish Department worker. (Source: Ahwaktuhkee.com)

Image Credit: Public Domain

Read more: Environment, Nature, Nature & Wildlife, Videos, Wildlife

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Aimee A.

12:08PM PDT on May 11, 2012

Thanks for posting!

May 11
send a green star

Kimberly M.

5:48PM PST on Jan 23, 2012

Grand idea but remember who you're dealing with.

January 23
send a green star

Carmen S.

2:29PM PST on Dec 11, 2011

thanks for sharing this, hope it works

December 11
send a green star

Chinmayee J.

2:03AM PST on Dec 10, 2011

Here's to hoping this works and isn't actually filled with ulterior motives!

December 10
send a green star

Nyack C.

2:29AM PST on Dec 9, 2011

I have my doubts about taking Arizona seriously about wildlife conservation- the Mexican Wolf is all but extinct and they want to create a border fence that would cripple wildlife natural range.

December 9
send a green star

Teresa W.

6:10AM PST on Dec 7, 2011

thank you

December 7
send a green star

Bob P.

5:42AM PST on Dec 7, 2011

thanks for sharing

Rebecca S.

1:19AM PST on Dec 7, 2011

thanks.

Danuta W.

12:34AM PST on Dec 7, 2011

Thanks for posting.

Nancy B.

6:44PM PST on Dec 6, 2011

Great idea, we need to educate the public about proper use of our environment and protection for wildlife. Many things happen because human beings aren't curious enough to think about the consequences of their actions. They just think about what they want and how quickly they want it. This could compare with the alcohol and smoking campaigns in the 70's and 80's. By the 90's, it wasn't cool to smoke or to drive when drinking. Maybe in 20 years, we will think more about the needs of wildlife to exist instead of our need for a new shopping mall, parking lot, or subdivision.