Conservation GIS Lab

Applying GIS, remote sensing, and data science to advance conservation outcomes

About the Lab

The IIC Conservation GIS Lab provides an opportunity for W&M students to apply their GIS, remote sensing, and data science skills to advance real conservation solutions.

In the Lab, students are matched with an external partner to complete an applied project over a semester with support from W&M faculty mentors. Students in the Lab participate in a weekly lab meeting and meet regularly with their conservation partners.

Student Requirements

To participate in the Conservation GIS Lab, students must meet the following criteria:

Complete CONS 210, GIS 201, BIOL 445 or equivalent prior to the lab
Available to attend a weekly lab meeting (Monday 1-2 pm ET or Friday 3-4 pm ET depending on the project you are selected for)
An organized self-starter able to manage project timelines and meet deadlines
Ready to participate in and lead meetings with external partners
A problem solver who enjoys developing solutions to challenges
Able to summarize methods and present research findings at the end of the semester

For questions, please email Erica Garroutte: [[elgarroutte]]

Get Involved

W&M students interested in the Conservation GIS Lab should ensure they can meet the requirements listed above and sign up for the IIC mailing list to receive information about registering for the Fall 2026 GIS Lab.

Conservation partners interested in having W&M students work on applied GIS or data science projects may email Erica Garroutte at elgarroutte@wm.edu for more information.

Spring 2026 Conservation GIS Lab Projects

Understanding how Land Use Change and Forest Conversion may Influence Gorilla Populations in Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo

In the face of political conflict, understanding how human populations are shifting and converting forest ecosystems is particularly important for the conservation of forest ecosystem services for both people and gorilla populations in Rwanda and Democratic Republic of Congo. W&M students have a unique opportunity to collaborate with the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund to utilize GIS and Remote Sensing skills to explore land use and forest cover change in gorilla habitat needed to support their efforts to protect forest ecosystems for both gorillas and people.

Interpretive Maps for Ripley Bird Conservancy

W&M students are working with Ripley Bird Conservancy to create engaging interpretive maps to engage communities in an understanding of the ecology and conservation status of their bird species. This is a great opportunity for a student to use their GIS and storytelling skills to support community education and engagement in conservation.

Urban Encroachment Impacts on Wetlands in Nepal

Wetlands protect important water resources and ecosystems and play an important role in cultural practices in Nepal, yet increasing urbanization, growing populations, and climate change are threatening the persistence of these vital ecosystems. W&M students will work with partners from Nepal Engineering College to explore how urbanization in the Kathmandu Valley is influencing wetland ecosystems and the social, cultural, and ecological impacts of these systems.

Superbloom Superfund for Women

Women play a critical role in conservation globally, but are disproportionately represented in the conservation field. With mentorship from women leaders in the conservation field from Superbloom Superfund, W&M students will have the opportunity to help create GIS mapping products that will help identify priorities for future investment in women-led conservation initiatives. With the intersection of carbon stocks, biodiversity, gender inequality, and potential for peacebuilding, we need further research and inquiry. With the literature review, GIS maps, and interviews we need to do, W&M students will have a unique opportunity to utilize their skills to build Superfund for women in conservation.

Living with North American Beavers: Tools for Coexistence in the Face of Climate Change

North American Beavers are highly interactive ecosystem engineers who shape riparian ecosystems, but also have negative impacts on industry and the livelihoods of local people. once trapped to extirpation in Virginia, the restoration of beaver populations needs to balance both their ecological benefits and the livelihoods of local communities, but more information is needed on their return to inform co-existence. W&M students will work with the Friends of the Dragon Run to utilize GIS to explore the impacts of North American Beavers in the Dragon Run Watershed, population, suitable habitats, and ecological impacts, and the social variables and climate factors that influence co-existence to inform the Friends of the Dragon Run's efforts to promote coexistence.

Prioritizing Areas for Conservation Land Easements

The Northern Neck Land Conservancy (NNLC) is a local land trust working in Virginia's Northern Neck and Essex County. W&M students are working with NNLC to explore the factors that they consider when making decisions about land easements and are utilizing GIS to help them prioritize sites.

Understanding how Climate Change may be Influencing Algal Blooms in the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea Coastal Lagoons

W&M students are working with the Wildlife Conservation Society and their partners to apply GIS skills to explore how climate change may be influencing algal blooms in the Chukchi and Beaufort Sea and the cascading impacts on fish populations and local communities. This will support their collaborative efforts with Indigenous and local communities to implement conservation strategies that promote biodiversity and livelihoods in the face of climate change.

Grasslands and People of Ikh Nart: Developing a Storymap to tell the Story of Herders and Wildlife in the Grassland Steppe of Mongolia

Mongolia is home to rich biodiversity and herding cultures, but is threatened by land conversion, mining, and frequent drought. Telling the stories of the Mongolia’s nomadic herder communities and their work to sustain rangeland ecosystems for both people and wildlife is critical for ensuring global support for conservation in Mongolia. W&M students will have a unique opportunity to learn from and help share the story of the work that Mongolian Conservation Initiative and partners are doing in collaboration with local communities to protect wildlife and rangeland ecosystems in Dorongobi, Mongolia through a Storymap.

Documenting Patterns of Human-Bear Conflict in Humla, Nepal to inform Mitigation

Herder communities in Humla, Nepal are facing an escalating crisis as Himalayan bear attacks on humans have sharply increased in the past month. These incidents are likely linked to rapid ecological changes affecting bear behavior and movement. In response, this GIS project provides W&M students the opportunity to support both community safety and wildlife conservation. Students will use GIS tools to document human–bear conflict events collected through local citizen science efforts and analyze the ecological and social factors driving these encounters. The resulting spatial analyses and maps will directly inform strategies to mitigate human–bear conflict, helping protect vulnerable herder communities while supporting the long-term conservation of Himalayan bears.

Invasive Species Mapping in James City County Parks

James City County, Virginia, has prioritized the identification and spatial mapping of invasive species to inform the development of an invasive species management plan for its 17 parks. As part of the development of a Natural Resource Management Plan, W&M students will have a unique opportunity to contribute to the documentation and mapping of native and non-native flora and fauna across their parks and will create a framework for tracking and managing invasive species. This is a great opportunity to contribute to conservation and restoration in practice in our backyard!

Partner Opportunities

We invite conservation organizations and communities to submit proposals for student-led research projects through the Conservation GIS Lab. We seek projects that have a GIS or remote sensing component to them, have clearly defined objectives than can be accomplished by a student in one semester, and will be impactful for conservation partners in advancing conservation outcomes.