ArcGIS Pro Python Toolbox

Data exploration and mapping tools for species and infraspecies in ArcGIS Pro. This toolbox is for use by regional Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) coordinators and Wildlife Conservation Society Canada (WCSC) staff working in the WCSC-KBA map template available through the NatureServe Canada GIS Portal.

Mapping Tools

Mapping Tool - Species

• Use this tool whenever you are interested in seeing all of the spatial data available in the KBA-EBAR database for a given species.
• For example, you should use this tool when trying to answer the question: “Where is species X found?” or when preparing spatial data for trigger species ahead of workshops.
• The tool creates a single group layer for your full species of interest, making sure to also include any data that was identified to infraspecies.

Mapping Tool - Infraspecies

• Use this tool whenever you are interested in seeing all of the spatial data available in the KBA-EBAR database for a given infraspecies (i.e. subspecies, variety, or population).
• For example, you should use this tool when trying to answer the question: “Where is infraspecies Y found?” or when preparing spatial data for trigger infraspecies ahead of workshops. The tool creates a single group layer for your infraspecies of interest.
• Optionally, the tool can also prepare a separate group layer containing spatial data for the parent species (so that you can check whether any of the parent species data might, in fact, be pertinent to your infraspecies).

Exploratory Data Analysis Tools

Exploratory Tool - Species & Infraspecies

• This tool is intended for data exploration only.
• You should use this tool when trying to answer questions such as: “How much of the data for species X is identified to infraspecies?” or “How is the data for various infraspecies of species X distributed in space?”.
• This tool creates separate group layers for a) the parent species and b) all its infraspecies (if they exist).

Toolbox dependencies

• Spatial data layers [SpeciesData group with InputPoint, InputLine, InputPolygon, EO_Polygon] and stand-alone tables [BIOTICS_ELEMENT_NATIONAL, Species (view only), InputDataset] must be present in the map. These data layers and table can be re-added to a map from the WCSC-KBA Map File available through the gis.natureserve portal.

New in this release:

• Ability to filter and create output datasets for WCSC Range Maps, WCSC Area of Occupancy Maps, COSEWIC Range Maps, and COSEWIC Extent of Occurrence Maps.
• Users no longer need to download and install the WCSC_KBA_symbology style file from the gis portal because the custom symbology parameters are specified within the scripts.