Mapping Tomorrow

How New Tools Are Shaping the Future of Conservation in a Fracturing World

Imagine trying to protect wildlife while blindfolded. (Hard, right?) That’s the reality for much of global conservation today. For most species, we still don’t know whether their habitats are shrinking, stable, or recovering. That knowledge gap is not only inconvenient but also the difference between survival and extinction.

A new study led by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and funded by NASA is changing that. By combining field surveys, satellite imagery, and expert opinion, scientists have created dynamic maps that visualize past, present, and future habitat availability for four iconic species: tigers, jaguars, African lions, and American bison. Unlike traditional static range maps, which are slow to produce and often outdated, these tools are updateable, interactive, and designed to keep pace with the accelerating pressures of human development.