By: David Anderson
(Director & Chief Scientist)
We have raised the funds to launch the Conservation Environmental Review Tool (CERT)! Our wonderful donors, along with Gates Family Foundation, have provided the support we need on the front end to launch this innovative tool for Colorado. The CERT is an interactive mapping website that hosts critical natural resources data for planners and decision makers in Colorado. The CERT provides easy access to natural resources data, leading to better conservation decisions that take into account related systems and potential impacts on natural resources. The CERT will synthesize sensitive species data from CNHP, CPW, IMBCR, and USFWS along with a myriad of useful resources for conservation planning. Users will be able to submit project areas for review, obtain comprehensive conservation planning information, make maps, run analyses, and complete regulatory compliance requirements. The same technology, developed by NatureServe, is already doing this in ten other states. The CERT will also provide a range of functions to support private lands conservation and the conservation easement process. COMaP, Colorado’s comprehensive map of conserved lands including easements, will be available within the CERT. The CERT will support trail planning along with empowering Colorado’s implementation of the SHIFT principles, and the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Learn more and check out a fun story map about the CERT here.
