1st Edition
by Tom Mueller (Editor), Gretchen F. Sassenrath (Editor)
Conservation planning involves
targeted management practices and land use decision-making based on
careful analysis of landscape limitations in order to protect soil and
water resources. Developing solutions to conservation planning is of
worldwide interest due to anticipated population growth, growing demand
of feedstocks for biofuels, decreasing freshwater resources, and
increasing land degradation in the developed world. Recent advances in
geospatial technologies now provide land managers with tools and
resources to conserve soil and water resources more efficiently than has
ever been possible before.
GIS Applications in Agriculture, Volume 4: Conservation Planning presents
approaches developed by leading researchers working at the intersection
of conservation and spatial technologies. Among others, the
technologies include global positioning systems (GPS), geographic
information systems (GIS), Internet mapping technologies, remote
sensing, and various modeling applications. These advances allow
improved prediction of soil erosion and environmental effects, better
prioritization of land for conservation initiatives and funding, and
enhanced prediction of the impact of management practices on natural
resources. They also facilitate the development of conservation
management plans and improve the accessibility of conservation knowledge
and tools.
The strategies presented are designed to provide the
greatest benefit to preserving natural resources while reducing economic
expenses. Each chapter includes a detailed background on the specific
topic, with case studies describing the design and implementation of the
solution. Readers are guided through step-by-step exercises to gain
experience in executing the conservation practice. Substantial online
data and modeling are available that can be immediately implemented or
modified to suit users’ needs. The exercises are accessible enough to be
used in the classroom, yet detailed enough for self-instruction by
highly motivated professionals active in developing conservation plans.
