OakQuest: collaborative mapping and stewardship of Oregon white oak

Biodiverse and imperiled, native white oak ecosystems represent a top conservation priority in Oregon. Responding to a lack of basic inventory data, the Intertwine Alliance Oak Mapping Work Group (OMWG) formed in 2011 to... [ view full abstract ]

Biodiverse and imperiled, native white oak ecosystems represent a top conservation priority in Oregon. Responding to a lack of basic inventory data, the Intertwine Alliance Oak Mapping Work Group (OMWG) formed in 2011 to coordinate a Portland, Oregon regional partnership of over 20 public agencies, park districts, and non-profit organizations. Initial efforts have focused on development of a cross-jurisdictional oak distribution map for the region combining citizen science and remote sensing surveys.

During summer 2014, OakQuest engaged over 80 citizen scientists to collect field observations of Oregon white oak across 641 square miles, spanning urban and fringing rural areas of the Portland metropolitan region. Volunteers recorded tree or stand locations, and took photos and field notes using a custom smartphone application, which enabled users to see each other’s work via a continuously updated map. During the 2.5 month-long effort we collected over 7,200 observations of native oak across varied land use settings and stand conditions.

OakQuest citizen science data is supplemented with professional surveys to address geographic gaps and collect observations of non-oak vegetation needed to revise our remote sensing model. During winter 2014-15, we will refine the remote sensing model, conduct an accuracy assessment, and determine whether and where additional model development and citizen science observations are needed.

The OakQuest citizen science effort proved highly successful, enabling the OMWG to collect substantial ground-truthing data while providing meaningful natural resources stewardship opportunities for volunteers. In addition, two college-age Native American youth were employed to help coordinate field volunteers, providing career training opportunities for a traditionally under-served population. Through the collaborative OakQuest mapping project, the OMWG has strengthened community support for conservation of the region’s Oregon white oak natural legacy and developed a habitat inventory to better inform conservation planning and decision-making.