The Landscape Index
Forest and grassland restoration contributes to the health of the land and local communities. The Landscape Index tracks restoration offerings published in the Federal Register. The database includes a spatial index that records environmental due diligence progress in map format, and a document library of the Federal Register notices. The landscape offerings are an essential component to design a restoration sector in rural economies of the Western U.S. Periodic updates to the index report three economic metrics: scale of activity, allocation of investments, and income distribution. Landscape Index>>
Stewardship Stories of Collaboration
Place-based collaborations work to sustain the ecologic function of landscapes and the economic health of rural communities. Spatial Interest supports these collaborative efforts as the caretaker of their Stewardship Stories. Social networking technologies help write the chapters: field trip journals, meeting notes, and recommendations submitted to public land managers.
The technology tools include interactive photo atlases, discussion forums, and email management. Analysis of reliable data ensures that the stewardship story is nonfiction! The tools are supported by the software and green hosting technology of SiteKreator. Payette Forest Coalition>>
Communities on the Edge
Western towns punctuate a landscape of publicly owned forests and grasslands. These communities face resource and economic problems unique to their locations, resource history, and recent growth. Communities on the Edge is a series of Spatial StoriesTM that combine Photo Atlases and narrative to describe alternative land use strategies. The stories review policy, regulation, and financial incentives and their influence on settlement patterns. Story Index>>
