The Vermont Millennium Atlas Project

Citizen Scientists Map Wildlife for Conservation

At the dawn of the millennium, Vermont's landscape is undergoing rapid change. Since 1960, the state's permanent population has swelled by over 50% and the number of second homes has nearly tripled. The unprecedented rate of housing development has resulted in widening roads, commercial sprawl, and the spread of invasive plants. These obvious impacts are accompanied by subtle processes that degrade environmental health, including pollution, climate change, and the introduction of exotic pests and diseases. Given the problems facing Vermont habitats, it is no surprise that 20% of the state's vertebrates are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern. To avoid the species loss that has troubled the state in the past, the Vermont Millennium Atlas Project (VMAP) documents the current status of wildlife populations and fosters public appreciation for their role in the environment. VMAP accomplishes these goals by involving citizens in mapping wildlife for conservation.

Who We Are

VMAP is a project of the Vermont Institute of Natural Science, carried out in cooperation with the Vermont Reptile and Amphibian Atlas. It is funded by a grant to VINS from the Ehrich Environmental Fund. VMAP's component projects receive additional funding from other sources.

Objectives

1. Document the statewide distribution, abundance, and habitat associations of bird, butterfly, amphibian, and reptile populations at the beginning of the millennium.
2. Identify important populations of species at risk.
3. Identify vulnerable areas and biodiversity hotspots for conservation.
4. Engage a broad constituency of Vermont citizens in hands-on, ecological investigations that convey the excitement of science, improve observational skills, and promote understanding of the natural world.
5. Enable natural resource stewards to make scientifically informed land-use decisions.

Project Components

VMAP integrates three projects in an innovative, multi-taxa approach to mapping Vermont wildlife.

The Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas is a five-year initiative that began in 2003. Data gathered by volunteer observers will update information contained in the original Atlas of Breeding Birds of Vermont, which was published in 1985. The second atlas will record changes in avian distribution that may have resulted from a warming climate or changing patterns of land use.

The Vermont Butterfly Survey is a five-year census that began in 2002. It will document, for the first time, the distribution and relative abundance of butterflies across Vermont. It will employ the same geographic sampling scheme as the Vermont Breeding Bird Atlas, enabling convenient participation in both VMAP components.

The Vermont Amphibian and Reptile Atlas is an independent project directed by Jim Andrews from an office at Middlebury College. This ongoing initiative compiles field records, old and new, and produces detailed distribution maps for herpetologists and conservation practitioners.

From Understanding to Action

VMAP data are used to identify biodiversity hotspots and establish land protection priorities. For example, the first bird atlas identified an avian diversity hotspot in the woods and wetlands of Essex County. There, citizen scientists recorded a high concentration of migratory species and several resident species found nowhere else in the state. These findings were used to support the creation of the West Mountain Wildlife Management Area (22,000 acres) and the Nulhegan Basin Division of the Conte National Wildlife Refuge (26,000 acres), and to place easement restrictions on surrounding timberlands (84,000 acres).

VMAP data are also used to inform statewide planning and environmental regulation. By reporting their wildlife sightings to the three atlas projects, Vermonters have contributed to the development of the Vermont Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy and the Vermont Endangered and Threatened Species List. These documents guide on-the-ground decisions to conserve species and habitats at risk.

Access to VMAP data

VMAP data are maintained in a geographic information systems database, with maps and data available for viewing at the individual project sites. We encourage landowners, conservation advocates, and environmental regulators to use the wildlife occurrence, abundance, and habitat information to safeguard vulnerable populations. We also urge educators to use VMAP as a tool for local inquiry in their natural science courses. For additional guidance, contact the individual project's coordinating biologist.

Upon the project's completion, we will contribute the VMAP data to the Vermont Biodiversity Project at the University of Vermont's Spatial Analysis Lab. The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources uses this biodiversity databank for policy formulation and environmental regulation.

Join the Fun

We invite you to experience the thrill of discovery by joining in one of the VMAP projects. Each atlas provides detailed field manuals, training opportunities, and the chance to contribute to a legacy of wildlife conservation in Vermont. Visit the links above for more information.

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