Land Information System
Colin Anderson, manager of conservation information (Photo by NCC)
It takes a mountain of data to help protect a forest. Or prairie grasslands. Or wetlands. For the Nature Conservancy of Canada’s (NCC's) science team, that job is getting a lot easier thanks to a powerful new tool — and the support of a new partner.
The Land Information System (LIS) is an integrated data storage tool that will allow NCC staff instant access to critical information whether they are in the field or in the office. There isn’t a system like it anywhere else.
The LIS was developed by NCC science staff and designed and built by Cengea to help NCC's team collect, organize and analyze vast amounts of information. Maps of properties, details about species at risk, threats to habitat, even photographs and legal documents can all be stored and accessed quickly by more than 200 staff members nation-wide.
Lights, cameras, conservation!
Toshiba is also providing digital camcorders to help capture NCC’s Conservation Volunteers in action
Conservation Volunteers provide thousands of hours of high-priority on-the-ground conservation work at NCC properties across Canada every year.
Roving Reporters will use the camcorders to catch the fun, family-friendly activities on film. Those videos will be used to encourage a broader audience to join NCC as volunteer stewards.
The system will not only ensure better conservation outcomes, but it will help NCC to share its information with many interested groups, such as landowners. The result will be more efficient and effective decisions to help NCC better protect natural areas and the species they sustain.
With a little help from our friends
The LIS is now being rolled out across the country as a result of generous support from Toshiba of Canada. Toshiba is the largest private sector supporter of the LIS. Over the next three years, through funding and the donation of mobile computing technology, Toshiba will help to power the work of NCC’s science team.
Laptop computers, adapted for multiple uses such as training, in-office and in-field conservation work and stewardship management, will help NCC staff access the vital information housed in the LIS.
“The LIS will help us to better communicate our achievements and make us more effective in planning our conservation work and protecting biodiversity across the country,” says Colin Anderson, NCC’s manager of conservation information. "We're grateful to Toshiba of Canada for helping to power this work."
Together, NCC and Toshiba are helping to ensure our natural legacy lasts for future generations.
