Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia

In a world of limited resources and so many species and habitats in need of protection, informed prioritization is essential. However, we cannot prioritize effectively if historical and current information regarding a particular habitat or species remains scattered. Several good platforms have been...

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Main Authors:	Liew, Seng, Liz Price, Gopalasamy Reuben Clements
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	2016
Subjects:	QA76 Computer software
Online Access:	http://eprints.ums.edu.my/20353/ http://eprints.ums.edu.my/20353/1/Using%20Google%20Earth%20to%20improve%20management%20of%20threatened%20limestone%20karst%20ecosystems%20in%20Peninsular%20Malaysia.pdf

id	ums-20353
recordtype	eprints
spelling	ums-203532018-06-27T01:23:24Z http://eprints.ums.edu.my/20353/ Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia Liew, Seng Liz Price, Gopalasamy Reuben Clements, QA76 Computer software In a world of limited resources and so many species and habitats in need of protection, informed prioritization is essential. However, we cannot prioritize effectively if historical and current information regarding a particular habitat or species remains scattered. Several good platforms have been created to help users find, use and create biodiversity information. However, good platforms for sharing habitat information for threatened ecosystems are still lacking. Limestone hills are an example of threatened ecosystems that harbor unique biodiversity, but are facing intensifying anthropogenic disturbances. As limestone is a vital resource for the construction industry, it is not possible to completely halt forest degradation and quarrying in developing countries such as Malaysia, where 445 limestone hills have been recorded in the peninsula to date. As such, there is an urgent need to identify which hills must be prioritized for conservation. To make decisions based on sound science, collating spatial and biological information on limestone hills into a publicly accessible database is critical. Here, we compile Malaysia's first limestone hill GIS map for 445 limestone hills in the peninsula, based on information from geological reports and scientific literature. To assist in conservation prioritization efforts, we quantified characteristics of limestone hills in terms of size, degree of isolation, and spatial distribution patterns. We also assessed the degree of habitat disturbance in each limestone hill in terms of buffer area forest degradation and quarrying activity. These data are stored in a KMZ file and can be accessed through the Google Earth interface. Rather than being viewed as a final output containing basic limestone hill information, this database should be regarded as a foundational platform for users to collect, store, update and manipulate spatial and biological data from limestone hills to better inform decisions regarding their management. 2016 Article PeerReviewed text en http://eprints.ums.edu.my/20353/1/Using%20Google%20Earth%20to%20improve%20management%20of%20threatened%20limestone%20karst%20ecosystems%20in%20Peninsular%20Malaysia.pdf Liew, Seng and Liz Price, and Gopalasamy Reuben Clements, (2016) Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia. Tropical Conservation Science, 9 (2). pp. 903-920. ISSN 1940-0829
repository_type	Digital Repository
institution_category	Local University
institution	Universiti Sabah Malaysia
building	UMS Institutional Repository
collection	Online Access
language	English
topic	QA76 Computer software
spellingShingle	QA76 Computer software Liew, Seng Liz Price, Gopalasamy Reuben Clements, Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia
description	In a world of limited resources and so many species and habitats in need of protection, informed prioritization is essential. However, we cannot prioritize effectively if historical and current information regarding a particular habitat or species remains scattered. Several good platforms have been created to help users find, use and create biodiversity information. However, good platforms for sharing habitat information for threatened ecosystems are still lacking. Limestone hills are an example of threatened ecosystems that harbor unique biodiversity, but are facing intensifying anthropogenic disturbances. As limestone is a vital resource for the construction industry, it is not possible to completely halt forest degradation and quarrying in developing countries such as Malaysia, where 445 limestone hills have been recorded in the peninsula to date. As such, there is an urgent need to identify which hills must be prioritized for conservation. To make decisions based on sound science, collating spatial and biological information on limestone hills into a publicly accessible database is critical. Here, we compile Malaysia's first limestone hill GIS map for 445 limestone hills in the peninsula, based on information from geological reports and scientific literature. To assist in conservation prioritization efforts, we quantified characteristics of limestone hills in terms of size, degree of isolation, and spatial distribution patterns. We also assessed the degree of habitat disturbance in each limestone hill in terms of buffer area forest degradation and quarrying activity. These data are stored in a KMZ file and can be accessed through the Google Earth interface. Rather than being viewed as a final output containing basic limestone hill information, this database should be regarded as a foundational platform for users to collect, store, update and manipulate spatial and biological data from limestone hills to better inform decisions regarding their management.
format	Article
author	Liew, Seng Liz Price, Gopalasamy Reuben Clements,
author_facet	Liew, Seng Liz Price, Gopalasamy Reuben Clements,
author_sort	Liew, Seng
title	Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia
title_short	Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia
title_full	Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia
title_fullStr	Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia
title_full_unstemmed	Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia
title_sort	using google earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in peninsular malaysia
publishDate	2016
url	http://eprints.ums.edu.my/20353/ http://eprints.ums.edu.my/20353/1/Using%20Google%20Earth%20to%20improve%20management%20of%20threatened%20limestone%20karst%20ecosystems%20in%20Peninsular%20Malaysia.pdf
first_indexed	2018-09-05T09:42:44Z
last_indexed	2018-09-05T09:42:44Z
_version_	1610760128749895680

Using Google Earth to improve management of threatened limestone karst ecosystems in Peninsular Malaysia

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