GIS Certification Institute considering adding an exam

Today is the last day the GIS Certification Institute will collect comments on adding an exam as part of the certification process.  It will be interesting to see what comes out of this.  Any proposed changes will be announced in April.

Bills introduced which would kill the Game & Fish Endangered Species program by eliminating their ability to use federal funds.

HB 567 - STATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES (Rep. Zachary Cook) – This bill would amend the Wildlife Conservation Act, requiring the state to take primary responsibility for listing, protecting, and managing Threatened and Endangered Species in New Mexico.  It would remove authorization for the Commission and the Department to consult with, assist, or enter into agreements with federal agencies concerning threatened or endangered species, and would require a complete investigation process for including any species already listed federally (the Commission could no longer adopt the federal list.)  Identical to SB 565.  Click here to read bill. 

SB 565 - STATE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES (Sen. William Burt) – This bill would amend the Wildlife Conservation Act, requiring the state to take primary responsibility for listing, protecting, and managing Threatened and Endangered Species in New Mexico.  It would remove authorization for the Commission and the Department to consult with, assist, or enter into agreements with federal agencies concerning threatened or endangered species, and would require a complete investigation process for including any species already listed federally (the Commission could no longer adopt the federal list).  Identical to HB 567.  Click here to read bill.

CALL THE HOUSE ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND URGE THEM TO VOTE "NO".

• Brian F. Egolf, 505-986-4423
• Antonio Lujan, 505-986-4435
• Miguel P. Garcia, 505-986-4327
• Roberto "Bobby" J. Gonzales, 505-986-4425
• Al Park, 505-986-4413
• Richard D. Vigil, 505-986-4242

Bighorn Sheep Now Bypassing the Dam Too

The new Hoover Dam bypass bridge includes a wildlife overpass to help protect the state's Bighorn Sheep population. The three sheep bridges cost $4.8 million, a fraction of the price tag for the $71.3 million bypass project. Biologists determined that the sheep prefered overpasses to underpasses because of their keen eyesight and their ability to scope out terrain before approaching it. More from the AZ Republic...

A Bighorn Sheep Crosses the New Hoover Dam Bypass

Where is Bahrain?

This interactive map from the Washington Post clearly shows the basic geography of the Middle East and updates on the political history in progress.

Geomedicine on the Rise

This series of maps show geographic patterns of incidences of breast cancer and prostate cancer in the US. Read the full study here.

ESRI International Conservation Mapping Competition

The Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna is a working group under the Arctic Council, for the countries of Russia, Denmark, USA, Canada, Sweden, Iceland, Norway and Finland and indigenous peoples.

Created in association with Esri and the Society for Conservation GIS (SCGIS) to bring special recognition to those involved in conservation initiatives, the International Conservation Mapping Competition is open to all nonprofit conservation groups and the individuals who support them.