About - NM CHAT

About New Mexico Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool

The New Mexico Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (NM CHAT) is a web-based map tool with spatial information on the conservation of animals, plants, and their habitats across New Mexico. It is designed to aid landscape-level planning and is intended for industry, natural resources managers, conservation practitioners, and the public to identify priority habitat (See Data for details.). The CHAT website is a collaboration between New Mexico Dept. of Game & Fish and Natural Heritage New Mexico, Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico.

West-Wide CHAT

This broad-based, collaborative effort was initiated by the Western Governors' Association. The NM CHAT is now part of a West-wide effort by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies to map crucial habitat across 16 states. has resulted in a West-wide crucial habitat data layer derived from mutually agreed-upon input datasets. The West-wide CHAT definitions and datasets help support compatibility and consistency across state boundaries to support multi-state planning efforts (http://www.wafwachat.org/).

Updates and Data Gaps

NM CHAT represents the best current scientific data available and the content is subject to ongoing change, modification, and refinement. The species data do not represent exhaustive inventories, but are compilations of knowledge from field biologists that are updated periodically as knowledge improves. In addition, habitat models and ecological maps are expected to be refined in future versions. It is important to note that habitats or species may occur on the ground in areas not currently known to biologists, or in areas for which comprehensive surveys have not been conducted.

If you have questions about NM CHAT please contact Matt Wunder, Division Chief, Ecological and Environmental Planning Division, at Matthew.Wunder(at)state.nm.us, (505) 476-8101, or Rayo McCollough, Information Manager, Natural Heritage New Mexico, Rayo(at)unm.edu, (505) 277-3822 xtn. 225.

DISCLAIMER

The New Mexico Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (NM CHAT) provides landscape-scale, non-regulatory, conservation information to support project planning. It does not replace or supersede site-specific consultation with appropriate agencies, including the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. NM CHAT provides a visual exploration of wildlife data while preserving the confidentiality of sensitive information.

For more information on sensitive species and wildlife habitat go to the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish website and Natural Heritage New Mexico.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Funding

Support for this site was provided by the Western Governors’ Association Wildlife Council, Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperative, Great Plains Landscape Conservation Cooperative, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, and the Bureau of Land Management.

Data Providers

Data on species and habitats was provided by Playa Lakes Joint Venture, New Mexico Environment Department Surface Water Quality Bureau, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Museum of Southwestern Biology at the University of New Mexico.

Photo Credits

Pronghorn: Yathin S Krishnappa (http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:ListFiles/Yathin_sk)
Fisherman: Jim Mathews (http://www.976-fresh.com/)
Capulin Volcano: Phil Tonne, Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico
Jemez Mountain Salamander: Mark Watson, NM Department of Game and Fish
Rio Grande panorama: Esteban Muldavin, Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico
Gray Vireo: Paul Arbetan, Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico

New Mexico CHAT Production Team

New Mexico Department of Game and Fish

Leads: Matt Wunder and Ken Cunningham
Content Review: Chuck Hayes, Mark Watson

Natural Heritage New Mexico, Museum of Southwestern Biology, University of New Mexico

Leads: Esteban Muldavin and Rayo McCollough
Content Development: Terri Neville, Lisa Arnold, and Mitch East