A mapping tool developed by researchers at the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) which helps to identify areas for nature recovery opportunities has already garnered huge interest just weeks after its launch.
The Agile Opportunity Maps software can be used to generate local maps which show the potential of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and nature recovery opportunities in a given area. Alison Smith, Senior Research Associate at the ECI, said:
More and more people are looking at nature-based solutions to challenges such as climate change and biodiversity loss, but it can be difficult to decide what options to choose and where to put them to suit the local context.
We have developed a system for generating maps of potential NbS and nature recovery opportunities using existing datasets and a series of simple rules. The user provides boundaries of the area or areas of interest, and the guidance provides instructions on how to download the necessary input data and run the code to generate the maps.”
The mapping process starts by generating a habitat base map, then brings in additional land use information. This is used to estimate ecosystem service scores, which indicate the benefits currently delivered by the land. Then the tool identifies opportunities for enhancement through nature recovery and nature-based solutions. This data can be exported to a spreadsheet where users can do further analysis to assess the benefits of different interventions.
The aim is that the maps can suggest suitable interventions for specific locations but not provide final solutions. The maps are intended to act as a starting point for discussions by local stakeholders. Alison adds that ground truthing is key to the process:
The maps compile existing data sources but it’s really important to get out and check exactly what is on the ground.”
Ground truth - information that is known to be real or true, provided by direct observation and measurement (i.e. empirical evidence) as opposed to information provided by inference.
In recent years nature recovery has taken over from nature conservation, with a desire to improve the condition of land, water and nature on the basis of what it will do for society, for net zero and for climate adaptation and much more.
The Agile Opportunity Maps tool provides a system of generating maps anywhere in England using freely available software. Use of the tool requires a basic understanding of python, access to ArcGIS, and a license to use Ordnance Survey Mastermap (OSMM), which is free for public sector organisations and academics.
Over 200 people recently joined a webinar organised by the Ecosystems Knowledge Network where Alison Smith presented the tool, which led to numerous requests from people keen to use the software. She added:
It’s great to see so many different people from different organisations considering using the tool. I hope it will be useful to help stakeholders plan and deliver more robust nature-based solutions with wider benefits for local people.”
Watch a recording of the webinar.
Find out more about the Agile Opportunity Maps.
Find out more about the wider work of the NbS Knowledge Hub.
The development of the maps was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) [grant number NE/W004976/1] as part of the Agile Initiative at the Oxford Martin School. Earlier stages of the work were also supported by the Higher Education Innovation Fund via the Oxford Policy Exchange Network (OPEN).