STEW-MAP and i-Tree Tools: governance and community
connectivity
How do we understand the social, spatial, and tempo-
ral interactions within a city of 9 million people? This is
the research question that underlies the Stewardship
Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP), a civic
capacity map and a data-driv-
en set of tools that has result-
ed in a regional list of 12,000
groups who steward the urban
spaces across NYC. Drs. Michelle
Johnson, Lindsay Campbell, and
Erika Svendsen explained that the
tool itself is for natural resource
managers, funders, policy makers,
educators, stewardship groups,
and the public.
The tool collects information on
organizational characteristics,
physical geography, and organi-
zation social networks (relation-
ships). Maps and databases can
be generated to better understand
civic capacity and support com-
munity development.
On the application side, the benefit is building a com-
munity of data contributors who share the same goals
for sustainability. With respect to governance, people
can be positive agents of change; without stewardship
groups, there is a high possibility that the landscape will
not be sustained. The mapping provides a legitimacy of
Slide from presentation on STEW-MAP Image credit: http://www.civicnetwork.io
Our group walking along the High Line in NYC Photo credit: Adrina C. Bardekjian
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