Mapping Our Shared Environment
The North American Environmental Atlas combines and harmonizes geospatial data from Canada, Mexico and the United States to allow for a continental and regional perspective on environmental issues that cross boundaries. It is a unique tool to analyze and raise awareness of our shared environment and ecosystems across the continent, to demonstrate their value, and to help us see what needs to be done to protect them.
The dozens of map layers of the Atlas are unique in that they harmonize geographic information across North America’s political boundaries. By comparing these map layers, we can better understand and quantify critical trends and interrelationships at the North American level.
Explore this interactive story for a better understanding of how the Atlas can be useful to you.
Explore more than one thousand publications and articles that utilized data from the North American Environmental Atlas.
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Keywords
Map Type
Map Files
Anthropogenic Biomes
2008
Humans
This map shows North America classified into “anthropogenic biomes,” also known as “anthromes” or “human biomes.”
Irrigated Areas
2007
Humans, Water
This map shows the percentage of the total land area that was equipped for irrigation, around the year 2000.
Commercial Marine Vessel Emissions
2006
Climate, Pollutants, Transportation
This map illustrates the estimated air emissions of sulfur (SOX as SO2) from cargo traffic in shipping lanes serving North American coastlines in the year 2002.
Human Influence on Terrestrial Ecosystems
2005
Humans
This map shows the direct influence of humans on terrestrial ecosystems across North America.
Wetlands
2004
Biodiversity, Water
This map shows different wetland types, as well as lakes and rivers, across North America.
Tools
Map Viewer
The North American Environmental Atlas map viewer provides access to several data layers, including terrestrial and marine ecosystems as well as human influence.
MapMonday
From tracking Uber orders in Montreal to understanding the effect of coastal farming activity in Sinaloa, Mexico– maps help us navigate and understand the world around us.
North American Land Change Monitoring System
A collaborative initiative between Canada, Mexico, and the United States to monitor land cover - the observed physical cover on the surface of the Earth - and its change over time.
Publications
Marine Ecoregions of North America
A book that celebrates the richness and wealth of our region’s common ocean and coastal...
Because our environment does not end at the border, the CEC has developed over the last 22 years a unique framework...
Integrated Modeling and Assessment of North American Forest Carbon Dynamics Technical Report
Tools for monitoring, reporting and projecting forest greenhouse gas emissions and removals
GIS Updates
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