SILVIS LAB – Spatial Analysis For Conservation and Sustainability – UW–Madison

We map how the world is changing, try to understand why, and analyze the implications for biodiversity, especially birds. We focus on land use, because it is the greatest conservation threat. We often work with satellite imagery, GIS data, and statistical models, we conduct field work, and we collaborate a lot.

World of SILVIS

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Recent Research

Global WUI

Half the global population is potentially exposed to direct human-environmental conflicts in the Wildland-Urban Interface.

Argentina Phenoclusters

We developed an approach to cluster forests based on phenology and climate (forest phenoclusters) across Argentina.

Satellite Conservation

Developing maps from satellite data to inform species conservation is essential for the future of ecosystem services.

Hotspots in Argentina

Eduarda Silveira identified hotspots of biodiversity conservation concern across Argentina to reduce threats and minimize losses.

Azerbaijan Habitat Change

Using Corona spy satellite images, Afag Rizayeva is exploring impacts of long-term land cover changes on habitats in Azerbaijan.

“2020 Siberian Wildfire” (credit: Greenpeace)

Circumboreal Fires

The circumboreal region is warming at twice the rate of the globe which may be increasing the severity and abundance of wildfire.

Wildlife Protected Areas

It is critical that the ecosystems and species we intend to protect are where we think they are.

The human footprint in the forests of Argentina, along with examples of different forests present in the country (Yungas and Andean-Patagonian Forests; photos by N. Politi and Y. Rosas).

Argentina Human Footprint

A new map of the human footprint identifies the wildest forests of Argentina for land-use planners and conservationists.

Landsat-8 from the 26th July 2017, in central Portugal, source USGS

Mediterranean Biome WUI

Kira Pfoch is exploring long-term changes of the Wildland-Urban Interface and fire activity in the Mediterranean-climate biome.

Arctic Waterfowl Flyways

Natalia Rogova uses various satellite data to identify key habitats along Arctic waterfowl migration flyways.

Mitred Parakeet (Psittacara mitratus) eating the fruit of a Schinus sp. tree

Novel Mapping of Birds

Ashley Olah uses novel measures of remotely-sensed spatial and temporal variability to model species distributions in Argentina.

Bird Habitat Selection

How do individual bird species select their habitats? Is there a consistent pattern, and how does it vary among different species?

Recent Publications

Data & Web Maps

Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

Changes in the WUI between 1990 and 2020

WUI Change Maps & Data

Block Level Housing Density

Growth in Housing Density in the U.S. between 1990 and 2010

Housing Density Maps & Data

Dynamic Habitat Indices

Global Dynamic Habitat Indices (DHIs)

DHIs Maps & Data

Caucasus Land Cover Change

Landsat 8 TIRS-derived thermal variables to predict winter biodiversity patterns

Caucasus Land Cover Change Maps & Data

More Maps & Data

Click below for a complete list of SILVIS datasets

Go to Maps & Data

We gratefully acknowledge support from

Our research in the news

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