Describe new or novel types of conservation data that are now possible to collect with technological developments.
Conservation was one of the first and remains one of the most important domain applications of GIS & technology. As human activities and changing environmental conditions increase and interact to impact the world’s natural resources, accurate and precise spatial data are vital to address conservation issues such as deforestation, habitat fragmentation, and biodiversity loss. The unique ability of geographic information science and its associated technologies (GIS&T) to collect, manage, and analyze different types of spatial data (e.g., GPS locations, digital elevation models, administrative boundaries, satellite images) makes it a critical component in our ability to address pressing conservation issues. Here we give an overview of key applications and note recent progress and exciting new developments in GIS and technology applications in conservation.