Alberta Species at Risk Counts from 2002 GIS Analysis

2002 GIS mapping details the count of animal and plant species at risk across Alberta, using COSEWIC categories like Extirpated and Endangered. The dataset was created by the Government of Alberta using ArcGIS and is provided via the open_canada platform. It serves as a historical snapshot of conservation status for the province's biodiversity.

Use Cases

• Analyze spatial patterns of species at risk counts across Alberta using the underlying GIS polygon data.
• Compare regional concentrations of species classified as Endangered versus Threatened using the COSEWIC categories embedded in the map.
• Overlay this historical 2002 risk data with modern land-use maps to study changes in threat correlates.
• Identify areas with high counts of Extirpated or Species of Special Concern for targeted habitat restoration studies.

Strengths

• Data is structured using formal COSEWIC risk categories (Extirpated, Endangered, Threatened, Special Concern).
• Provides a complete provincial coverage for Alberta.
• Originates from the authoritative Government of Alberta.

Limitations

• Data is from a single year (2002) and is not updated, representing a 22-year-old snapshot.
• The underlying row/column counts and specific statistical summaries are unknown.
• Available only in geospatial service formats (WMS, ESRI REST), not as a raw tabular dataset.

Provenance

Source

Government of Alberta

Collection Method

Created using ArcGIS for spatial analysis and mapping.

Time Range

2002

Freshness

Static dataset from 2002; the 2026 timestamp reflects a platform metadata update, not data revision.

Geography

Alberta, Canada