MIAL: Mapping the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor

MAPPING THE MESOAMERICAN BIOLOGICAL CORRIDOR

In December 1998, NASA and The Central American Commission on Environment and Development (CCAD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for cooperation in support of the development of a Mesoamerican Biological Corridor. The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor was established in 1997 by the presidents of the seven countries of Central America, all whom are members of CCAD: Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama.

The Mesoamerican Biological Corridor is a crucial environmental initiative for the region, with a central development concept-integrating conservation and sustainable use of bio-diversity within the framework of sustainable economic development. Recognizing the utility of satellite observations for benchmarking and understanding environmental change in Central America, NASA and CCAD have entered into this MOU to cooperate in the following areas:

Development of a map classifying the land cover of the Central American isthmus according to life zones and land-use types for use in the development of a Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
Joint activities dedicated to increasing the information held in and usefulness of CCAD's environmental data and information system, such as providing CCAD with optical, radar, and topographic remote-sensing information and climate and ocean information from NASA archives for use in developing and maintaining the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor and for a large number of other applications within the Central American isthmus, including: regional development, urban planning, assessing the vulnerability of areas in the region to natural hazards, promoting meteorological and marine research, etc.
Strengthen the capacity among Central American researchers to analyze and use remote-sensing/GIS information and to develop an environmental data and information system through training and exchange of personnel with NASA.
Facilitating connections between Central American researchers and other U.S. Government institutions involved in Space and Earth science research and applications.

For more information, visit the project home page at the NASA-Marshall Space Flight Center.