Current National Data Resources for the Gap Analysis Project
Summary
Current national data resources for GAP include three primary data sets – land cover, protected areas, and species. Land Cover: The GAP/LANDFIRE National Terrestrial Ecosystems data, based on the NatureServe Ecological Systems Classification, are the foundation of the most detailed, consistent map of vegetation available for the United States. These data facilitate the planning and management for biological diversity on a regional and national scale. Learn more about GAP land cover data here: https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/science-analytics-and-synthesis/gap/science/land-cover Protected Areas: The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) is a national geodatabase, created by USGS GAP, that represents public [...]
Summary
Current national data resources for GAP include three primary data sets – land cover, protected areas, and species.
Land Cover: The GAP/LANDFIRE National Terrestrial Ecosystems data, based on the NatureServe Ecological Systems Classification, are the foundation of the most detailed, consistent map of vegetation available for the United States. These data facilitate the planning and management for biological diversity on a regional and national scale. Learn more about GAP land cover data here: https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/science-analytics-and-synthesis/gap/science/land-cover
Protected Areas: The Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US) is a national geodatabase, created by USGS GAP, that represents public land ownership and conservation lands, including voluntarily provided privately protected areas, for the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. The lands included in PAD-US are assigned conservation status codes that both denote the level of biodiversity preservation and indicate other natural, recreational and cultural uses. Learn more about PAD-US here: https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/science-analytics-and-synthesis/gap/science/protected-areas
Species: GAP has delineated species range and predicted distribution maps for more than 2,000 species that occur within the continental U.S. as well as Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Our goal is to build species range maps and distribution models with the best available data for assessing conservation status, conservation planning, and research. The goal is to build species range maps and distribution models with the best available data for assessing conservation status, conservation planning, and research (e.g., climate change impacts). The ranges and models represent a base upon which GAP will build as new data become available. Learn more about GAP species data here: https://www.usgs.gov/core-science-systems/science-analytics-and-synthesis/gap/science/species
