Full document / COSOC-W-86-002 - the National Sea Grant Library

Estuarine and Coastal Management Tools ofthe Abstract only
Trade. Proceedings of theTenth National Conference
of TheCoastalSociety. October12-15.1986. New
Orleans.LA. Copyrightby TheCoastalSociety
1987.
THE DATA MANAGT-MENT SYSTEM OFTHE
LOUISIANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM -
A NATURAL AREAS INVENTORY OFTHE STATE
Nancy I. Craig,Gary D. Lester,and Annette Parker
LouisianaNaturalHeritageProgram
DNR-CMD
BatonRouge. LA 70804
The Louisiana Natural Heritage Program (LNHP) is a natural areas inventory targeting
endangered species habitat, outstanding examples of native ecosystems, environmentally critical
areas, and sites for scientific research. The purpose of the program is 1) to gather information
systematically and on a continuing basis on the occurrences of significant natural areas in
Louisiana, 2) to assemble and store this information efficiently, 3) to make its retrieval simple and
cost-effective so that impacts of various activities on these areas can be evaluated, and 4) to set
preservation prioritiesso that areas/species in need ofprotectionareaddressedwhile others which
aresecureor less significantdo not divert limited resourcedollars.
A data management system for the LNHP has been developed by The Nature
Conservancy over the last ten years. The datamanagementsystem consists ofa tightly structured
manual, map, and computer (IBM-PC-AT) filing system that records information on the existence,
characteristics, numbers, condition, status, location, and distribution of the occurrences of
elements of the natural ecological diversity of the state. The classification systems, element
descriptionsand other informauon that describethe targetsof the inventory processaremaintained
in the element files. Specific locadonal dataof significanthabitatareplottedon USGS 7.5 minute
topographical maps(1:24,000) in the hangingmap fileandgeneralmap file alongwith supporting
documentation for each occurrence. The managed area file organizes information on publicly and
privately owned areasin Louisiana thatoffer some degree ofprotection to natural areas. A separate
source file is maintained to cross reference all materialassociatedwith the database including all
supporting articles, journals, unpublished documents, books, organizations, individuals, etc.
Abstractsof key informationkept in the manual filesareenteredinto the computer filesto facilitate
rapid/efficient storageandprocessing/retrieval of data. To date,852elementoccurrences of special
plants (305), special animals (231), natural communities (131), other natural features such bird
rookeries (185) have beendocumentedandmappedforcoastal Louisiana. The LNHP is one of 40
such programs in the UnitedStates. Unlike biological inventories ofthe pastwhich operatedin
isolation these programs form a closely knit network. Ultimately the programs will produce
regional and national classification systems, data synthesis, and perspectives on species
endangerment and conservation needs. The Natural Heritage programs have developed an
effective andefficient information system forbiological conservation planning.
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