Challenge Grant Update:Linking the Network of Natural Heritage Biodiversity Data

to the Environmental Information Exchange Network

EPA Challenge Grant Project:• Benefits• Timeline• Participants• Proposed Data Flow

The NatureServe Network Unique Challenges NatureServe Vista Pilot Additional Resources Contacts Questions

Challenge Grant Update

Implement a new, voluntary biodiversity data flow:• Provides EPA and Exchange Network users with access to

locations of threatened and endangered species • Supports conservation planning, environmental regulation and

decision-making• Creates opportunity for applications that can consume

biodiversity data

Document and share results: • Promotes knowledge transfer to NatureServe network members• Expands audience for Exchange Network to other conservation

organizations with similar biodiversity data holdings

Project Benefits

Year 1:• Develop and register XML schema for biodiversity data flow• Develop and implement data access requirements• Develop and implement data exchange tools

Year 2:• Develop and implement web service APIs• Prototype user interfaces to the biodiversity data • Pilot a direct application link between Delaware Natural

Heritage data and the NatureServe Vista decision support system

• Document and share results

Project Timeline

Challenge Grant Lead• State of Delaware, Department of Natural Resources and

Environmental Control

Participating Agencies• NatureServe• State of Washington, Department of Ecology• State of Washington, Department of Natural Resources• State of Illinois, Department of Natural Resources• State of New Mexico, Natural Heritage New Mexico

Project Participants

Member Programs800 staff- 53 U.S. programs- 7 Canadian programs-11 Latin American / Caribbean programs

NatureServe90 staff in 6 offices- Member Services- Conservation Science Services- Information Technology Services

US Virgin Islands

Puerto Rico

The NatureServe Network

NatureServe:• Establish scientific standards for biological inventory and

biodiversity data management

• Develop comprehensive and current databases for at-risk species and ecological communities

• Provide information products and conservation services to guide natural resource decision-making

Member Programs:• Collect, analyze, and distribute detailed data about plants, animals,

and ecosystems• Track distribution and conservation status of species and natural

communities and map the locations of at-risk populations• Conduct environmental reviews and assessments

NatureServe Key Activities

DNREC

IL DNR

MS SQL

Server

XML

XML

XML

InternetAuthorized NEIEN User or Application

Oracle Central

Database

Exchange Network

Node

Exchange Network

Node

Exchange Network

Node

Oracle Biotics 4

Oracle Biotics 4

Oracle Biotics 4

MS SQL

ServerFuture NatureServe

Network Participants

Biodiversity Database

Exchange Network

Node

NatureServe

CDX NAAS for Authentication and

Access Control

NHNM

XMLSQL Server Biodiversity

Database

WA DNR

Proposed Data Flow

Unique Challenges Spatial Data

• Expose species location data• Provide Web Services to access and query spatial data• Create map-based user interface to spatial data

Security• Fine grained authorization roles • Attribute-level authorization• Data specific authorization• Impact on performance and caching must be taken into

account Heterogeneous Network

• Different deployment environments• Different physical data models – similar logical data models

NatureServe Vista PilotTo Guide Implementation of Delaware’s Comprehensive

State Wildlife Plan

Demonstrate the use of the Exchange Network to flow biodiversity data from the Delaware Natural Heritage Program to a decision support system

Develop the interface within the NatureServe Vista decision support system to consume the biodiversity data Web Service

Use other available data services appropriate for the project area chosen by Delaware

1. Element Selection

2. Element Conservation Layer

3. Conservation Summary Layer

6. Query and Reporting5. Conservation & Land Use Scenarios

4. Evaluate Goals

Decision or Alternative Scenario

NatureServe Vista

Additional Resources

NatureServe: http://www.natureserve.org/aboutUs/index.jsp

NatureServe Network: http://www.natureserve.org/aboutUs/network.jsp

NatureServe Vista: http://www.natureserve.org/prodServices/vista.jsp

Contacts

Participant NEIEN Node Contact Heritage Program Contact

Delaware Dennis Murphydennis.murphy@state.de.us

Karen Bennettkaren.bennett@state.de.us

Washington Debbie Stewartdste461@ecy.wa.gov

Janice Millerjanice.miller@wadnr.gov

New Mexico N/A Rayo McColloughrayo@unm.edu

Illinois N/A Tara Kieningertkieninger@dnrmail.state.il.us

NatureServe Douglas Sellersdouglas_sellers@natureserve.org

N/A

Questions?