Introduction
The Biosciences Technical Working Groups brings together stakeholders to work on GIS data and infrastructure related to biological organisms and their environment, including the relationship between humans and organisms
Vision
To provide GIS Professionals, the public and other organizations with easy access to Bioscientific data that is comprehensive, authoritative, high-quality, well-documented, standardized, easy to find and in a format that is easy to use.
Goals
- Identify which topics should be included in the Bioscience data Theme and included in The Idaho Map (TIM). For the identified topics, identify the authoritative dataset and evaluate the quality, completeness and infrastructure and access to those datasets. If standardized, comprehensive datasets do not exist yet then help facilitate the creation of those datasets.
- Develop standards including standardized data schemes for the datasets that should be included in The Idaho Map. Work with the Idaho Geospatial Council and its Executive committee to have those standards approved and develop nominations for inclusion of those datasets in The Idaho Map.
- Participate in discussions for the vertical integration of datasets, for example when administrative boundaries related to hunting follow boundaries in other administrative datasets
- Work with the Land Use and Land Cover Technical Working Group to determine whether data layers related to habitat and landscapes should be part of the Bioscience Technical Working Group or the Land Cover Land Use Technical Working group.
- Identify trends and issues related to Bioscience that may impact the GIS community in Idaho, for example when Federal legislation or trends impact the access to, and distribution of data.
- Provide a forum where different stakeholders with an interest in GIS data layers belonging to the Bioscience theme can communicate, collaborate and learn from each other.
Framework Layer

Birds
Fish
Fish Distribution
Description
Fish Hatcheries
Description
Hunting and Fishin
Controlled Hunts
Description
Hunting access to Private Lands
Description
Fishing and Boating Access
Description
Mammals
Bighorn Sheep Distribution
Description
Species Range for ..
Description
Wetlands
Wildlife Habitats
Wildland Management Areas
Description
Conservation Zones
Description
Plants

Leadership
Angie Schmidt
Information System Program Manager
Idaho Department of Fish & Game
208-287-2716
angie.schmidt@idfg.idaho.gov
Next Meeting
Date TBD