Case Study: Resource-conflict analysis: A geospatial approach to assessing energy development threats to landscapes in the Southwest
McGlothlin D, Budde P, Sherrill K. 2013. Case Study: Resource-conflict analysis: A geospatial approach to assessing energy development threats to landscapes in the Southwest. Park Science. 29(2):23-33
Responding to cumulative impacts with consistency across park and regional boundaries at landscape scales requires establishing an objective, consistent, and proactive approach to identifying adjacent or proximal areas with explicit or potential connection to NPS administered resources. Use of available geospatial data and analytic tools to assess potential risks of proposed external land use actions represents a viable approach for dialogue among National Park Service managers, other agencies, and groups proposing land use actions. Our response to the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for Solar Energy Development in Six Southwestern States highlights the benefit of adopting this approach for addressing potential resource confl icts across broad geographic extents. This resource confl ict analysis engaged multiple levels in the NPS organization and incorporated authoritative resource data. Moreover, the experience highlights the potential to respond in a consistent and timely manner, acting as an initial screening procedure
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- McGlothlin, Dan; Budde, Peter; Sherrill, Kirt
- Units
- FOBO
- Keywords
- broad-scale assessment, geospatial analysis, protection of landscapes, Resource Conflict Analysis, solar energy, solar energy development exclusions, utility scale