Conservation challenges are spatial at their core

A colorful bird with blue and turquoise feathers flying near tree branches with green leaves against a cloudy sky.

Rapid land-use change and a warming climate are driving the loss and degradation of terrestrial and marine ecosystems and the species that depend on them. These changes also affect the food, water, and livelihoods people rely on.

Understanding where these pressures are occurring, how they are changing over time, and what is driving them is fundamental to solving them. MAPSS combines conservation science and geospatial technology to help organisations turn that understanding into practical action.

We help conservation teams measure what is happening, decide where to act, and improve impact over time

20+

countries active

80+

projects delivered

387M

ha under monitoring

45+

peer-reviewed publications

A world map highlighting regions in Africa and the Americas, showing locations of specific conservation areas. Notable highlighted regions include The Jack and Laura Dangedmond Preserve off the coast of California, Kavango Zambezi (KAZA) TFCA in Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Angola, Malawi-Zambia (MAZALA) TFCA, and Great Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area in southern Africa. The map also labels North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa.

Where we Work

MAPSS is rooted in Africa, where our work spans some of the continent’s most important conservation landscapes — from the Luangwa Valley and Serengeti to the Okavango and Greater Kruger.

As our work has expanded beyond Africa, we have supported conservation organisations and landscapes in South America and Europe, bringing the same spatial thinking to new places, new partners, and new problems.

Aerial view of a winding river flowing through a lush green forest with patches of open land, under a cloudy sky.

How We Work

A deer peeking through tall orange and yellow flowering plants in a green, natural setting.

Wherever we work, we work closely with the people responsible for managing and protecting the landscape.

Founded by ecologists, MAPSS brings together field experience, conservation science, remote sensing, geospatial engineering, and software development. We use these disciplines together to understand conservation challenges, build the systems needed to monitor them, and make information accessible to the people who need to use it.

The result is more than a map or a report. It is a practical way for conservation teams to understand what is happening, track change, and make better-informed decisions.

+ Esri Conservation Partner

Trusted by

Seal of the Department of Natural Parks & Wildlife (DNPW) with a deer and a mountain in the background, and the motto 'Conserve Wildlife' at the bottom.

Text reading 'WILD CHOICES' with 'WILD' on a black background and 'CHOICES' on a white background.

Outline of Africa with horizontal lines and text 'The Wilderness Project'

Silhouetted eagle in flight above the word '& BEYOND' in capital letters.

Close-up of a leopard's face in black and white.

Silhouettes of various African wildlife, including an elephant, lion, rhinoceros, and a small antelope, with the text 'African Wildlife Foundation' underneath.

A shield with two zebras standing on either side, a buffalo head beneath, gears and waves above, and a banner with the word "PULA" underneath.

Text reading 'Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve'

Seal of the Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology featuring a mountain, a microscope, a book, and gears, with the text indicating it is in Arusha, established in 2009, and part of an academic and industrial industry.

The word 'TRAFFIC' in large, black, bold letters

Emblem of Tanzania National Parks featuring a leaping antelope and stylized plants in green, yellow, and white with the text 'HIFADHI ZA TAIFA TANZANIA NATIONAL PARKS'

Let’s Work Together

Every landscape presents unique challenges and opportunities. Let's work together to develop practical, science-led geospatial solutions that create lasting conservation impact.