NY DEC’s Nature Explorer now available to the public

November 06, 2009

LAKE OSWEGO, OR — Windsor has developed and implemented a new Web application for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Natural Heritage Program (NHP). New York State Nature Explorer is a browser-based application that provides enhanced access to natural resource data. The application combines data from three major natural resource data repositories – Biotics (an inventory of at-risk species and ecological communities), Breeding Bird Atlas, and Amphibian and Reptile Atlas.

The Web application is powered by the latest GIS toolsets in conjunction with an easy-to-use tabular search and result set. The integration of spatial and tabular datasets provides the ability for users to answer critical natural resource questions, which are important when making determinations, from a single application.

Nature Explorer contains a secure component allowing NHP staff to review specific details and locations related to rare and threatened species. Search results also include not only maps and tabular data, but photos, facts, and links to additional information regarding plant and animal species. Residents, landowners, land managers, municipalities, city planners, consultants, and students will be able to use this tool to make important development decisions, learn about their local environment, or plan a birdwatching trip.

The application was launched in October 2009 and is quickly gaining popularity among New York residents. Please see Greene County’s The Daily Mail for a detailed news article covering New York Nature Explorer: http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2009/11/05/news/doc4af2719f99c2d656025429.txt

The Nature Explorer application can be accessed at the following URL: http://www.dec.ny.gov/natureexplorer/