Stewardship Assessment and Mapping Project
Background
The Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project (STEW-MAP) is a research and mapping initiative that helps communities better understand the organizations, groups, and networks working to care for the environment. Led in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC) in partnership with UVA Biophilic Cities, STEW-MAP combines survey data and spatial mapping to document where stewardship groups work, the activities they undertake, and how they collaborate with one another.
Originally developed by the U.S. Forest Service, STEW-MAP has been implemented in communities around the world to strengthen stewardship networks, identify opportunities for collaboration, and support more effective environmental action. The current STEW-MAP update will provide a clearer picture of stewardship efforts across the TJPDC region, helping organizations, local governments, and community members better understand and support the people and groups caring for local landscapes and communities.
STEW-MAP seeks to answer key questions, including:
- Who are the stewardship organizations and groups active in our region?
- What types of stewardship activities do they undertake?
- Where are stewardship efforts concentrated?
- How do organizations collaborate and share resources?
- Where are there opportunities to strengthen stewardship and community partnerships?
Through participation in the STEW-MAP survey, organizations can help build a more complete understanding of the region’s stewardship network and contribute to stronger connections across the community.
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.
The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission (TJPDC), in partnership with UVA Biophilic Cities, is currently updating STEW-MAP, a regional initiative that maps and connects organizations engaged in environmental stewardship across the TJPDC region. Stewardship groups are invited to complete the voluntary STEW-MAP survey, which takes approximately 15-30 minutes and should be completed by one representative from each organization (or one representative per department for larger organizations).
As participating organizations identify partners and collaborators, additional stewardship groups will also be invited to take part, helping to build a more comprehensive picture of the region’s stewardship network.
The survey is now open. If your organization would like to participate or if you have any questions about the project, please contact Isabella O’Brien at iobrien@tjpdc.org.
- Natural resources managers, civic groups and the public are able to understand where environmental stewards are in the region
- Strengthens partnerships among stakeholders
- Helps connect the community with volunteer opportunities
- Strengthens disaster preparedness and response
- Promotes greater community engagement with on the ground stewardship
- Helps stewards develop stronger funding proposals
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.
Materials
What are your suggestions for improving the data or stew-map visualizations?
Please share your thoughts with Isabella O’Brien at iobrien@tjpdc.org.
Educate
Monitor
Fund
Transform
Conserve
Advocate
