Empowering Change with GIS Technology for a Resilient Planet

A Conversation Between Scientists: Dawn Wright, PhD , Chief Scientist of Esri and Katharine Hayhoe , Chief Scientist of The Nature Conservancy

The alarm bells are ringing.

Our changing climate has pushed the planet into a critical new era. Biodiversity loss threatens our air, water, and soil. Global summits such as COP16 (for biodiversity) and COP29 (for climate) have underscored the case for collective action to protect and nurture our world's natural systems.

This work has been foundational for The Nature Conservancy (TNC). Recently, I spoke with Katharine Hayhoe, chief scientist at TNC, who works tirelessly with her organization to fight climate change and biodiversity loss, often using geographic information system (GIS) technology to do so. GIS connects volumes of data to a sharable map so we can better understand all kinds of issues and challenges. In TNC’s work, the technology is crucial. Its maps and analysis help scientists identify patterns and relationships that in turn can help the organization prioritize its work with land, water and people on the ground.

Wright: What do you think people misunderstand about biodiversity and its role in climate resiliency?

Hayhoe: All too often, we treat the biodiversity and climate crises as separate, unrelated issues when in fact they are deeply intertwined. Healthy ecosystems are vital for climate mitigation and resilience. They store carbon and act as natural buffers against extreme weather events. Yet rising temperatures, unpredictable shifts in seasons, and frequent extreme weather events are having devastating effects on biodiversity.

Humans are pushing natural resources to the brink—whether through deforestation, overfishing, or industrial agriculture. The level of exploitation is unsustainable. And many of these activities also produce heat-trapping gas emissions that aggravate climate change. Ecosystem degradation is compounded by pollution and the fragmentation of landscapes. As climate change accelerates, it acts as a threat multiplier, worsening many of these stressors. Addressing one crisis without tackling the other is like treating the symptoms while ignoring the underlying causes.

For example, when we plan to build out the renewable energy resources needed to power the clean energy revolution, it’s essential to consider biodiversity. We don’t want to make one problem worse while trying to fix the other. That’s why TNC scientists created SiteRenewables Right. This GIS tool optimizes solar and wind energy siting to avoid taking up valuable agricultural land, affecting migratory bird pathways, or destroying ecosystems. Using this tool, we’ve shown how the United States can provide all the clean energy it needs to meet its net zero 2050 targets by reusing old mining sites, roadsides, and other select areas. Once the solar and wind farms are there, they can also be turned into pollinator and insect biodiversity hot spots, creating yet another win-win.

Wright: How has using GIS for mapping, analysis, and data visualization supported The Nature Conservancy’s preservation and restoration work?

GIS is a game-changer for biodiversity conservation.

Hayhoe: TNC uses this technology every day to make smarter decisions about how to protect nature and natural resources. TNC scientists create detailed maps of ecosystems and stressors, including human development and climate impacts. We track changes over time, and pinpoint where conservation interventions are most needed to protect biodiversity and to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

For example, TNC scientists and collaborators have used GIS to map existing habitat loss and modification from human activities at the global scale. They’ve also mapped future development pressures from industry, and combined these maps to better understand future conservation pressures to support sustainable community management. These maps clearly show land and natural habitats that are under threat of being converted into human-modified landscapes. GIS helps TNC and our collaborators understand exactly where and how we need to focus our efforts.

Wright: The Nature Conservancy has used GIS to create a digital twin of the Dangermond Preserve, described as a living laboratory on the Southern California coast. The technology has also been instrumental in our work at Esri to better understand ocean terrains and ecosystems and designate new areas for protection.

Wright: How can GIS help us identify areas with the best potential for these types of initiatives?

Hayhoe: That is another great example of how GIS aids our work. Beyond tracking ecosystem changes, we are also using it to identify critical areas for resilience, like carbon-rich forests which both sequester emissions and provide vital habitats. TNC’s naturebase is a climate solution web platform powered by GIS that directs users on where to implement nature-based projects so they can achieve the highest climate impact.

Indigenous and local community knowledge is another foundational aspect of our conservation planning. Within GIS we can integrate insights from those who have been caring for these landscapes for generations. TNC developed a new global index to pinpoint where strategic investments can support Indigenous governance and stewardship. These maps combine climate data with socio-economic and political data, helping us develop conservation strategies that are both effective and equitable.

Wright: What can we do individually to protect and restore biodiversity?

Hayhoe: As individuals, there’s much we can do to protect and restore biodiversity right where we live. In my weekly newsletter, Talking Climate, I’ve shared examples of how people have turned their balconies into butterfly habitats and their lawns into native plant sanctuaries. As etymologist Doug Tallamy has calculated, converting even half of the turf grass in the United States into native plants would be the equivalent of creating a large national park. Also using less chemicals, like pesticides and fertilizers, helps by protecting not only the soil and water, but also the many species that depend on these ecosystems to grow.

However, the most important thing we can do individually is advocate for biodiversity, conservation, and climate action in our communities.

Many of these conversations just aren’t happening: and if we don’t talk about it, why would anyone care? Starting the conversation about the risks we face and the benefits of solutions is crucial to preserving habitats and building resilience against climate impacts. I love to share stories of how TNC is working with local communities to do this: from projects that support farmers like Doug Darling in reducing fertilizer use and implementing regenerative, nature-friendly farming practices, to the Green Heart Project in Louisville, Kentucky that helps people in low income communities green their neighborhoods. These efforts not only help people protect themselves against heatwaves and flooding but also contribute to improved overall health.

I’m so heartened by the growing and much-needed integration of nature into climate discussions at recent UN climate COP conferences, including the upcoming COP29 this year and the recently completed biodiversity COP16.

By working together, we can protect biodiversity, support long-term economic growth, and build climate resilience.

Thank you, Katharine for all the work you are doing. An axiom we live by at Esri is that understanding precedes effective action. The Nature Conservancy has been leading the way in committing to the mission of conservation, and making that mission data-driven.

Today, we gather to celebrate the 25th annual GIS Day, a global celebration dedicated to educating others about the importance of spatial thinking, mapping, and spatial analysis in numerous fields and across industries. To learn about the ways individuals and organizations are applying GIS to support climate action and are shaping the world, visit Esri’s climate action page.

Dawn Wright is Chief Scientist of Esri. She works to strengthen the scientific foundation for the company’s products and services, while representing Esri as part of the scientific community. Notably, Dawn led the team that created the Ecological Marine Units (EMUs), a 3D digital ocean that creates better understanding of marine environments and how to plan for more sustainable activities there in the wake of climate change. Dawn joined Esri in 2011 and has written and contributed to some of the most definitive literature on marine geographic information system (GIS) technology. An elected member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering, as well as the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, she earned her doctorate in Physical Geography and Marine Geology from UC Santa Barbara. In 2022, Dawn became the first Black person to visit the Challenger Deep in the Pacific Ocean, the deepest and most unexplored place on planet Earth.