Calling all Bay Area conservation data compilers!
It’s time to update the Bay Area Protected Areas Database
For decades, organizations and agencies around the Bay Area – including dozens of TOGETHER Bay Area members and partners – have collaborated to update a regional dataset of conserved areas. Using this data, about every five years, we evaluate our collective progress toward the Conservation Lands Networks (CLN) regional conservation goals and many geography-specific habitat goals. This is one way that we coordinate regionally to support local land conservation efforts in service of regional and state goals.
Can I help update BPAD with data?
You can if you work for an agency or organization who owns and/or manages natural and working lands and water in the 10 counties of the Bay Area.
How do I submit data?
Please send in your most accurate boundary and attribute (e.g., acquisition date, public access status, GAP Status) GIS data using the 30×30 Toolkit. While this BPAD update is separate from 30×30 efforts, we are leveraging the thoughtful instructions for sharing GIS data that the Toolkit provides. You can use the information there as a full guide to updating both baseline data and GAP codes. Bonus: Your data will also improve accuracy of the 30×30 accounting and the California Protected Areas Database (CPAD) and California Conservation Easement Database (CCED). Please send data by March 30, 2024.
Need help? Let’s get the conversation started!
We know that data updates aren’t as simple as a single transaction. You’ll have questions. We’ll have questions. If you would like help sharing your data, email [email protected].
FAQs
Who is managing the data collection?
TOGETHER Bay Area is partnering with GreenInfo Network to collect your conserved areas GIS data and produce a 2023 Edition of the Bay Area Protected Areas Database (BPAD).
How will this data be used?
Your data will be included in the release of a 2023 Edition of the BPAD, a subset of the California Protected Areas Database (CPAD), and will be available for download from bayarealands.org in June 2024.
Here’s the best part: We’ll use the 2023 Edition of the BPAD to assess progress toward the CLN 2.0 habitat goals. The results will be featured in a CLN 2.0 Progress Report that will be released in September 2024. (Check out the CLN 1.0 Progress Report for an example of what this might look like!)
What if my agency recently submitted data using the 30×30 toolkit?
We’re collecting data through December 31, 2023, and we’ll appreciate the most up-to-date data you have.
What if my agency doesn’t have GIS, but we do have data in another format?
We can work with a number of data types! Please email [email protected] to discuss the best way to share your data.
How does this fit into TOGETHER Bay Area’s priorities?
It fits perfectly! Updating the BPAD is one way we support the region’s efforts to conserve 50% of lands by 2050. And it’s also a way we facilitate regional coordination. Check out our 2024-2028 Strategic Direction to learn more.
Got more questions?
We’re here to help! Email [email protected] to start a conversation.
Thank you for submitting your data by March 30, 2024 so the region can measure our progress towards conservation and habitat goals!
About the Conservation Lands Network
The CLN is a tool for organizing regional land conservation, a set of geography-specific habitat goals for biodiversity conservation, and a set of maps and tools that can be used by local practitioners and funders to support reaching the habitat goals as well as a region-wide goal of 50% of land and waters conserved by 2050.
We measure progress using GIS data of conserved areas voluntarily submitted by the Bay Area’s land conservation agencies and organizations. Areas conserved since the last update are overlayed onto the habitat goals. The overlay analysis shows:
Where we’ve made progress toward habitat goals…
…and which habitats require extra conservation attention!
Your up-to-date conserved areas data will enable us to accurately assess these gains and areas in need.
This information is helpful to the State Coastal Conservancy and other funders, who use the CLN to assess how grant proposals can support regional biodiversity goals. And it’s helpful for everyone involved – private landowners, land trusts, open space districts, county parks departments, water agencies, conservation nonprofits, and many more – in conserving and stewarding this region to address the dual challenges of climate change and unprecedented biodiversity loss.
Stay tuned for more CLN
This BPAD update is the first step in a five-year, multi-phased project working towards a CLN 3.0 that sets regional goals, creates useful tools, and mobilizes local and regional stakeholders to conserve 50% of the Bay Area’s lands by 2050.
To stay in the loop about all things CLN and how you can get involved, sign up here!
