The University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources is working cooperatively with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Region 3 to develop geospatial data and analysis tools for use in wildlife refuge management and planning activities.   Region 3 includes the eight states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri. USFWS Region 3 is expanding its efforts to complete detailed management plans (Comprehensive Conservation Plans or CCPs) for each of its over 50 NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGES and wetland management districts, including WATERFOWL PRODUCTION AREAS.   Geospatial data, analytical tools, and data presentation modules are being provided to aid in CCP development and implementation. An important step in constructing geospatial data coverages is the creation of georeferenced digital boundary files.   Refuge and WPA BOUNDARIES are built in accordance with USFWS standard operating procedures. The University of Minnesota Department of Forest Resources has used USFWS datasets in various EDUCATION projects.   In addition, we have been actively researching how the Internet can be used in sharing refuge and WPA geospatial data, and have developed several SAMPLE APPLICATIONS.

(Click on the map to view refuge and WPA locations and associated links.)

UMN Forest Resources

USFWS Region 3

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