Landscape Inventory and Assessment

A consulting team of students assesses the ecological values of a landscape for a sponsoring organization or landowner. Students weave the layers of the geology, soils, waters, land use history, plant communities, and wildlife into an integrated picture that will inform sustainable management.

After a needs assessment to understand the goals of the community sponsor, student-consultants perform extensive plant, wildlife, human use, and hydrological inventories. They produce a detailed report with GIS-based maps, assessments, and management recommendations based on the sponsor's needs.

A semester of work fosters relationships between the sponsor and the next generation of natural resource managers and conservationists. Community members contribute local knowledge and students bring ecological skills and know-how to help access integrated ecological knowledge on the landscape.