The division of fish and wildlifes geographic information system (GIS) section serves as a data management program for processing, organizing, analyzing, and long-term archiving of biological data for…

The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Department of Lands and Natural Resources received a Formula Grant award of $144,142.00 from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Department of Interior) under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611), effective October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026. This award supports the continued operation and maintenance of the Division of Fish and Wildlife's Geographic Information System (GIS) Section, which serves as the primary data management and technical support infrastructure for the Commonwealth's wildlife conservation initiatives.

The GIS Section delivers critical services including data collection, processing, organization, and long-term archiving of biological information derived from permit reviews, rare species surveys, and monitoring projects. GIS staff provide technical support for wildlife management activities through data entry, spatial survey design, mapping, and spatial analysis to inform species population assessments, habitat loss mitigation, and land development guidance. The award enables sustained maintenance of GIS infrastructure and technical capacity necessary to continue delivering science-based management recommendations for endangered and endemic species throughout the Northern Mariana Islands.

The division of fish and wildlifes geographic information system (GIS) section serves as a data management program for processing, organizing, analyzing, and long-term archiving of biological data for wildlife conservation projects. DFW biologists collect and analyze data from permit reviews, rare species surveys, and monitoring projects in order to assess and manage species populations, mitigate habitat loss, and guide land development. In tandem, the GIS staff provide technical support for such projects by entering data, designing spatial components of surveys, mapping efforts, and performing spatial analysis to better inform decisions. As a result, IT is essential to provide continued maintenance of GIS infrastructure and technical support in order to continue the programs capacity and provide the best management recommendations for species found within the commonwealth of the northern mariana islands.