Background image of map of the pacific northwest that shows the distribution of native peoples in1880. brightly colored

PROGRAM

Knowledge Systems

Knowledge Systems is the analytical arm of Ecotrust. A mix of art and science, we crunch numbers and perform systems analysis and then craft elegant tools, maps, and data visualizations to aid clients in decision making for a rapidly changing world.

From economic impact assessment and ecosystem service evaluation, to software development, cartography and decision support, we have delivered a range of award-winning tools and services to businesses, agencies, and organizations seeking opportunities to improve social equity, environmental integrity, and economic security.

We work in an open-source, collaborative environment, building on state-of-the-art approaches and the work of diverse communities of practice. Highlights of our recent work include:

Working with the Labor Network for Sustainability and 350.org to research alternative job creation strategies for the five-state Keystone XL region.

Supporting the state of California with surveys, spatial analysis, and interactive mapping tools.

Launching Forest Planner—an interactive mapping application to help landowners optimize forests for multiple benefits.

Developing a prioritization tool in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service to direct resources to the highest value watersheds.

 

See our full range of services here.

Spotlight

Aerial view of a small wooded island in the midst of still blue water with wisps of clouds. Northern British Columbia.

Maps that matter

Maps have always been at the heart of Ecotrust’s work to better connect people to the places they live. Here is a sampling of our most significant maps from the last twenty years.

Get in touch

Mike Mertens

Vice President, Knowledge Systems

503.467.0775

Knowledge Systems Resources

Understanding Values in Canada's North Pacific

Commercial fishing is a strong thread in the social fabric that has held BC’s coastal communities together for generations. The industry’s impact is typically boiled down to dollars and cents, leaving the wider societal impacts poorly documented and largely underrepresented in fisheries policy and marine planning. Yet these values are no less important to the people who make their livings on the sea. This report brings those values to the surface.