Partner Spotlight: The Value of Mapping Stewardship Work Across the World
December 14, 2025
An interview with Michelle L. Johnson, spatial ecologist at the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, by Natalia C. Piland, Postdoctoral Fellow at the Center for Environment, Community & Equity at American University
For the Fall 2025 "Partner Spotlight" feature, MSP LTER partner Dr. Natalia C. Piland interviewed spatial ecologist Dr. Michelle L. Johnson about the STEW-MAP (Stewardship Mapping and Assessment) Project. Born from the simple question Who takes care of this place, STEW-MAP tracks stewardship groups and their social relationships to reveal their impact on local environments. This conversation offers insights into the ins and outs of interdisciplinary community-engaged research, from the local to the global.