The Department’s Heritage Data Management System (HDMS) is part of a global network of more than 60 Natural Heritage Programs and Conservation Data Centers. HDMS manages and interprets data on diverse species to help inform management, development, and conservation actions across the State. Using published and unpublished reports, data collected by cooperating agencies, review of scientific collections, collaboration with professionals, and many other sources of information, HDMS identifies wildlife, plants, and geographic areas of special concern in Arizona and consolidates information about their status and distribution within the State.
Heritage Data volunteers will have the opportunity to aid the program's work through a variety of data-focused, administrative, and/or technical writing tasks, depending on interest and skill.
Examples of data-focused tasks:
- extract data from reports into electronic format
- process species data into specialized databases
Examples of administrative tasks:
- scanning paper files into electronic format
- creating electronic reference records for reports and publications using specialized software
- transferring Microsoft Office documents to Google Suite
Example of technical writing task:
- research and write technical species abstracts
Interested volunteers must have basic computer skills and be available to assist at least twice a month (preferably at least once a week) for a minimum of three months.
