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 Programs 800 staff - 53 U.S. programs - 7 Canadian programs -11 Latin American / Caribbean programs NatureServe 90 staff in 6 offices - Member Services - Conservation Science Services - Information Technology Services 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 Internet Authorized NEIEN User or Application Oracle Central Database Exchange Network Node Oracle Biotics 4 MS SQL Server Future NatureServe Network Participants Biodiversity Database Exchange Network Node NatureServe CDX NAAS for Authentication and Access Control NHNM XML SQL 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 Pilot To 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 Reporting 5. Conservation & Land Use Scenarios 4. Evaluate Goals Decision or Alternative Scenario NatureServe Vista

Additional Resources  NatureServe:  NatureServe Network:  NatureServe Vista:

Contacts ParticipantNEIEN Node ContactHeritage Program Contact DelawareDennis Murphy Karen Bennett WashingtonDebbie Stewart Janice Miller New MexicoN/ARayo McCollough IllinoisN/ATara Kieninger NatureServeDouglas Sellers N/A

Questions?