The Society for Conservation Geographic Information Systems (SCGIS) is an international
non-profit
A nonprofit organization (NPO), also known as a nonbusiness entity, nonprofit institution, not-for-profit organization, or simply a nonprofit, is a non-governmental (private) legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public, or so ...
society with around 1000 members in 80 countries.
The idea for an international GIS user group for Conservation was first suggested by Charles Convis in 1991 Supported by grants from th
Esri Conservation Programand hosted by the
University of California James Reserve, this group met annually under evolving names, including the "Conservation GIS Alliance". It incorporated as the Society for Conservation GIS in 1997 and received initial endowments fro
Robert Arenz(Money-Arenz Foundation) and
Jack Dangermond
Jack Dangermond (born 1945) is an American billionaire businessman and environmental scientist, who in 1969 co-founded, with Laura Dangermond, the Environmental Systems Research Institute (Esri), a privately held geographic information systems ...
(Esri). Over the next 5 years, SCGIS grew to around 300 US members drawn from many of America's premier
conservation organizations, united around a common concept of how technology can best be used to help non-profit conservationists worldwide. SCGIS adopts a broad view of conservation, the members and programs include native and First Nations peoples, environmental justice programs and sustainable development. The
Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation is an American foundation established by Intel co-founder Gordon E. Moore and his wife Betty I. Moore in September 2000 to support scientific discovery, environmental conservation, patient care improvements ...
awarded a "Science Special Projects" grant via
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is a global environmental organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, United States. it works via affiliates or branches in 79 countries and territories, as well as across every state in the US.
Founded in ...
in 2004 which funded 6 new international SCGIS chapters and new national workshops and training programs in conservation technology. By 2007, SCGIS Kenya had grown to 100 members, SCGIS Madagascar had over 300 members and new chapters had started in Philippines, Slovenia, Brazil, South Africa, Siberia, DR Congo, Mexico & Russia.
The book
Conservation Geography' () describes many SCGIS international member and chapter projects.
The SCGIS Mission is to assist
conservationists
The conservation movement, also known as nature conservation, is a political, environmental, and social movement that seeks to manage and protect natural resources, including animal, fungus, and plant species as well as their habitat for the ...
worldwide in using
GIS
A geographic information system (GIS) consists of integrated computer hardware and software that store, manage, analyze, edit, output, and visualize geographic data. Much of this often happens within a spatial database; however, this is not ...
and spatial technologies through nonprofit conferences, programs, scholarships, and training. This helps to provide a level playing field so that conservation and local self-determination voices can be heard in development and resources decisions often conducted behind walls of expensive technologies and inaccessible data. Providing high-tech support, training and tools in an "appropriate technology" manner so that these tools are usable and beneficial for local activists, local programs and local communities is a core value of SCGIS. In 2018, Scgis was given th
John Muir AssociationNonprofit Conservation Award
for "leadership in the advancement of environmental protection or conservation".Geographic Information System
A geographic information system (GIS) consists of integrated computer hardware and Geographic information system software, software that store, manage, Spatial analysis, analyze, edit, output, and Cartographic design, visualize Geographic data ...
(GIS). GIS consists of software, hardware, geographic data, and scientific methods that can efficiently store and analyse various types of spatial data and display these data as maps, charts, videos, images, or other graphic types.
Supported by an all volunteer
Volunteering is an elective and freely chosen act of an individual or group giving their time and labor, often for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergency ...
staff, a volunteer Board of Directors and Advisory Council, SCGIS hosts an annual conference that features discussion panels on the integration of GIS and conservation science, user group meetings, hands-on training sessions, and workshops. This Annual Conference, led by an all-voluntee
Conference Committee
, is recognized as a one-of-a-kind event that attracts GIS conservationists from all over the world. Technical seminar programs that are offered before and after the conference are especially popular; members who participate in the training and conference often report that their involvement has changed their lives. Published & filmed proceedings and Interviews have been created for member access since 2016 by th
Scgis Camera Team
. Th
Scgis Communications & Website committees
support the official website with member-exclusive content including hundreds of technical workshops, conference proceedings & webinars. Th
SCGIS Global Committee
oversees dozens of international chapters (as of 2019), an annua
competitive Scholarship Program
and a growin
global network of certified Conservation GIS Trainers
References
External links
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{{Authority control
Organizations established in 1997
International environmental organizations
Geographic information systems organizations