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Partners
Accomplishing a project of this scale requires the time and expertise of a number of individuals. While the majority of the field work to collect atlas data will rely on volunteer participants, successful and timely completion of the project depends on support of paid staff. As such, this project brings together experts from state government, non-profit conservation organizations, and academic institutions. The atlas is funded and directed by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, who has contracted with these other major partner organizations.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries of Wildlife (MDIFW) preserves, protects, and enhances the inland fisheries and wildlife resources of the state. Established in 1880 to protect big game populations, MDIFW has since evolved in scope to include protection and management of fish, non-game wildlife, and habitats, as well as restoration of endangered species like the bald eagle.
In addition to its conservation duties, MDIFW is also responsible for enabling and promoting the safe enjoyment of Maine's outdoors — from whitewater rafting to boating, snowmobiling, hunting, fishing, and wildlife observation.
The agency's constituents include the fish, wildlife, and people who call Maine home, as well as the visiting outdoor enthusiasts and ecotourists who call Maine Vacationland and contribute hundreds of millions of dollars each year to the state's economy.
Maine Natural History Observatory (MNHO) is a nonprofit organization established in 2003 to help further the knowledge and understanding of Maine's flora and fauna. Our mission is to collect, interpret, publish, and archive information on Maine's plants and animals. To pursue this mission, we work collaboratively with numerous organizations, agencies, and individuals with a strong interest in Maine's natural history.
Since 1843, Maine Audubon has been connecting people to nature through a science-based approach to conservation, education, and advocacy. The largest Maine-based wildlife conservation organization, Maine Audubon has eight wildlife sanctuaries, 10,000 members, 2,000 volunteers, and serves over 50,000 people annually. Maine Audubon's mission is to work to conserve Maine's wildlife and wildlife habitat by engaging people of all ages in education, conservation, and action.
The Biodiversity Research Institute's (BRI) mission is to assess emerging threats to wildlife and ecosystems through collaborative research, and to use scientific findings to advance environmental awareness and inform decision makers. BRI has a breadth of experience capturing and monitoring wildlife. We have expertise collecting data on all aspects of the ecosystem from environmental covariates to invertebrates to top level predators as well as managing ecological data, conducting geospatial analysis, and creating ecological models.
The Cornell Lab of Ornithology is a world leader in the study, appreciation, and conservation of birds. Our hallmarks are scientific excellence and technological innovation to advance the understanding of nature and to engage people of all ages in learning about birds and protecting the planet. eBird is one such hallmark program of the Lab. Launched in 2002 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, eBird provides rich data sources for basic information on bird abundance and distribution at a variety of spatial and temporal scales. eBird's goal is to maximize the utility and accessibility of the vast numbers of bird observations made each year by recreational and professional bird watchers. It is amassing one of the largest and fastest growing biodiversity data resources in existence and is the data entry platform being used for the Maine Bird Atlas.