Week 2 Lab: Geocoding

For this week's assignment, I chose the topic of ecological reserves and protected areas within Orange and Los Angeles Counties. While researching and collecting data, I found that while there are many small parks within cities, there are far fewer stretches of land that are protected for their plant or wildlife biodiversity. In urbanized areas many people are familiar with local neighborhood parks, which residents primarily use for recreational use. While areas near ecological reserves and wildlife sanctuaries are often open to recreation including hiking and equestrian trails and camping, state and local governments reserve these areas to protect native plant and wildlife.

Aside from outdoor adventurers, researchers, or land stewards who show interest in the biodiversity of these areas, within urbanized areas, the general public tends to be less aware of these reserves and their conditions. In this case, geocoding is applicable to assigning relative addresses to these areas to inform LA and Orange County residents that they live within a biodiversity hotspot and of the often rare species that exist in these places.

Viewing Los Angeles and Orange County ecological reserves in relation to the major highways in these counties reveals that contrary to what one would expect, most of these areas exist within or within a one-mile radius of urbanized areas, and usually immediately adjacent to major roads. Studies of biogeography show that the boundaries of natural areas are often compromised when nearby urbanized areas or infrastructure. However, perhaps the close proximity of these areas to urbanized areas and roads can assist locals in attempting to protect and study wildlife reserves. In addition, while gathering data I also found that many parks and reserves do not have officially addresses. Since, over time, the borders of natural areas continuously change, geocoding may be useful in tracking the where certain parts of these natural areas exist in the past, present, and future.

The ecological reserves within Los Angeles and Orange Counties are protected by the California State Department of Fish & Game, and Los Angeles and Orange County both report that these areas are often habitat to rare wildlife species as well as wild plant species. In addition to rare wildlife, many of these natural areas have very unique geology, suitable for studying geomorphological change. Protection and awareness of these areas and their unique species would allow for further study of Southern California wildlife and geomorphology.