As global population continues to grow, mankind must learn to balance consumption and conservation of the planet's scarce commodities. GIS technology brings a new perspective to the challenges faced by natural resource managers: How can agricultural yields be improved without depleting the soil? Where should timber be cut to best protect endangered species? How can landscapes be restored after the extraction of oil or minerals? What can be done to keep land development from choking rivers and coastlines with silt?

Managing Natural Resources with GISpresents a dozen case studies of real organizations using GIS to address these and other pressing issues of natural resource management. Case studies include:

• Oregon Department of Forestry
• City of New York
• World Resources Institute
• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
• Chevron Corporation
• Seaside High School
• Delaware Coastal Management Program
• U.S. Borax
• Portland Metro
• U.S.D.A. Forest Service
• New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection
• Southcorp Wines Estate

About the author:

Laura Lang is the author of Managing Natural Resources with GIS, Transportation GIS, and GIS for Health Organizations.