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Article published In:
Information Design Journal
Vol. 29:1 (2024) ► pp.3–24

Visualizing biodiversity on maps

Conflicting goals and limits of conventional presentation methods

ORCID logo | University of Bern

Maps play a central role in the transfer of knowledge for biodiversity conservation. However, their production and reception contexts have not been sufficiently investigated so far. While critical cartography has demonstrated that maps are not objective representations of nature but are influenced by social conventions, these insights have not been fully reflected in ecological mapping practice. This paper draws on critical map theory and expands it with a critical evaluation of map visualization. By analyzing the design of biodiversity maps, our study demonstrates that the way biodiversity is visualized in maps does not adequately reflect the dynamics and interdependencies of natural systems, nor does it adequately reflect the species-specific needs. It is argued that design-led research provides relevant knowledge about evaluating maps in terms of their functionality as communication tools. This is of central importance if we wish to further develop ecological cartography and make it practicable and effective in its field of application.

Keywords: map design, biodiversity maps, visual analyses, critical cartography, ecology
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.The role of maps in the transfer of ecological knowledge
  • 3.Critical takes on nature conservation mapping
  • 4.Evaluation of biodiversity maps from the perspective of design research
    • 4.1Theoretical foundation
    • 4.2Synthesis and formal comparison
  • 5.The design analysis of biodiversity maps
    • 5.1Urban Tree Mapping
    • 5.2Monitoring and inventory of species occurrences
    • 5.3Spatial guidelines for future action
    • 5.4Mapping ecosystem services
    • 5.5Summing up
  • 6.Towards new design approaches
  • 7.Conclusion and further research
  • Note
  • References
  • Image credits
Published online: 27 May 2024
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/idj.23007.sch
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