Why Open Data Matters for Ecosystem Management
When it comes to understanding and managing ecosystems, data is our most powerful tool. From tracking shifts in species distributions to mapping the effects of land use and climate change, every dataset tells part of the story of how our natural systems are changing—and how we can respond.
At the Centre for Ecosystem Management (CEM), we believe that science grows stronger when knowledge is shared. That’s why we advocate for open data practices across ecological research and environmental management.
Open data—freely accessible, well-documented, and reusable—creates opportunities for collaboration across institutions, disciplines, and borders. It allows researchers to build on one another’s work instead of starting from scratch, leading to faster insights and more effective solutions to pressing environmental challenges.
“Without good data, it is difficult to make good policy.””
For ecosystem managers, access to open datasets can mean better-informed decisions—whether it’s designing habitat restoration plans, evaluating biodiversity targets, or predicting the impacts of environmental change. For educators and students, open data provides a window into real-world science. And for the public, it helps ensure that the science guiding conservation decisions remains transparent and accountable.
The CEM is proud to contribute to this growing movement by promoting open-access databases, encouraging data sharing among collaborators, and supporting initiatives that make environmental knowledge more widely available. You can access a non-exhaustive list of known Great Lakes datasets here. The CEM has curated this collection to highlight publicly available data resources spanning biodiversity, hydrology, lake characteristics, fish population dynamics, and water quality across the Great Lakes region—helping researchers and managers find, connect, and build upon existing environmental data.
Because open data helps us see the bigger picture—and make better decisions for ecosystems everywhere.