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STEW-MAP: The Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project

Implementation

This project began by combining dozens of citywide organizational database to create a sampling frame of close to 5,000 potential civic stewardship organizations in New York City (see table below).  The assessment was conducted in July-Dec 2007 and collected information from more than 500 groups on organizational characteristics, geographic turf, and social networks. 

Citywide Stewardship Groups

Total Number of Data Providers (“umbrella group” lists):	35
Initial Number of Potential Stewardship Groups in citywide sampling frame:	4,788
Final Number of Groups in citywide sampling frame, following cleanup:	2,793
Total number of respondents:	682
Total number of NYC civic steward respondents:	540
Total number of NYC civic steward’s turf mapped in publicly searchable database:	405

Preliminary findings and maps were presented to data providers, researchers, and managers from Jan-July 2008, concurrent with further spatial analysis conducted in summer and fall of 2008.  These early presentations allow the questions of practitioners to further inform our research. [Listen to the webcast -- "STEW-MAP: Using social-spatial-network analysis to understand urban environmental stewardship in New York City and beyond", with Lindsay Campbell and Erika Svendsen, US Forest Service, Northern Research Station, New York City. (May 2008) ]

The database and maps are publicly available through the Open Accessible Space Information System.

STEW-MAP can be queried to provide custom information to land managers, such as lists of stewardship groups working in particular neighborhoods, boroughs, or within a fixed distance of a natural resource.  Data downloads and maps have been created for a range of groups, including the Million Trees Campaign, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, New York Restoration Project, and the Brooklyn Waterfront Greenway.  (See examples):

Map of stewardship spheres and population database points surrounding Idlewild Park for volunteer tree planting day

Data download of Brooklyn-based stewardship groups with email addresses for Oct 4 tree planting day:

Following the survey phase of the project, STEW-MAP Phase2 will continue to collect new stewardship information over time in a number of ways in order to periodically update the map:

• Umbrella group data providers can send database updates at periodic intervals;
• Field data can be collected using the STEW-MAP “short form” at existing stewardship events, such as Million Trees NYC volunteer tree planting days; the NYCHA Garden and Greening Awards Ceremony; or Greening Morrissania community outreach events;
• Individuals can email updates and feedback through the OASIS site

This project highlights the work of the many informal, neighborhood scale groups by quite literally “putting them on the map.” It advances the spatial and temporal understanding of civic innovation as it creates tangible tools for resource managers, policymakers, researchers, stewards, landscape architects, designers and grant makers.  STEW-MAP identifies dynamic areas of public and private resource management for the combined purpose of improving quality of life and the environment.  In addition, it will connect potentially fragmented groups and create a framework for measuring future urban environmental stewardship outcomes.

More Information

• STEW-MAP: The Stewardship Mapping and Assessment Project
  • Implementation
  • History and Intent of STEW-MAP project
  • Participants