Stewardship Assessment and Mapping Project
What is STEW-MAP?
The Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District is a survey and public database that maps where stewardship groups work and how they are connected, with the goal of strengthening community capacity for environmental stewardship within the region. Stew-MAP was first developed by the USDA Forest Service in New York in 2007. Since then, the framework has utilized from Seattle to Beijing. Each project is conducted separately by a local research team in partnership with local agencies and organizations.
STEW-MAP addresses the questions:
- Who are the environmental stewardship groups in the region?
- Where do they work, how do they collaborate and what type of work do they do?
- Where are there gaps and where are there concentrations of care?
What is a Stewardship Group?
The developers of the STEW-MAP program at the USDA Forest Service define a “stewardship group” as a group that works to conserve, manage, transform, fund or provide in kind material support, monitor, advocate and/or educate others about their local environments. Groups include neighborhood organizations, nonprofits, educational institutions, government organizations, contractors, and others supporting stewardship within the region. Are you a part of a local stewardship group and interested in learning more? Go to the bottom of the page to review the kickoff meeting further detailing the project.
Educate
Monitor
Fund
Transform
Conserve
Advocate
Manage
How does my organization get involved?
The STEW-MAP survey is now closed. However, if your organization is interested in participating in the next survey or if you have any questions, please reach out to iobrien@tjpdc.org.
In 2023, TJPDC staff identified environmental stewardship groups in the region and invited them to complete the voluntary 15-30 minute STEW-MAP survey. We asked that one representative from each organization (or one per department for larger groups) complete the survey on behalf of the entire group. As participating stewards provided information about their partner organizations, these newly identified groups were also contacted and invited to take the survey.
What are the benefits?
- Maps and STEW-MAP databases highlight stewardship gaps and overlaps
- Natural resource managers, funders, policymakers, civic groups, and members of the public understand where environmental stewards are in a landscape of interest
- Strengthens partnerships among stakeholders of similar focus areas
- Enhances citizen monitoring programs
- Strengthen disaster preparedness and response, from heat waves to riverine flooding
- Helps stewards develop stronger funding proposals
- Promote greater community engagement with on the ground stewardship
What is the project area?
For the TJPDC STEW-MAP Project, the focus is groups working on land and water stewardship within the Thomas Jefferson Planning District.
The Thomas Jefferson Planning District serves these six jurisdictions by providing regional vision, collaborative leadership, and professional services which include planning, technical assistance, data gathering, and grant administration.
