The NatureMapping program is in the early stages of development in Idaho. Christine Gertschen, Director of the Sawtooth Science Institute, has taken the initial steps in getting the program started. NatureMapping workshops for Idaho teachers have been held over the past several summers by the Institute. In addition, SSI has developed this website which will be an important resource for Idaho NatureMapping data.

One of the major problems with establishing a NatureMapping program has been finding a permanent repository for the data, and experts willing to evaluate contributed observations. This situation was resolved when the Idaho Museum of Natural History became an important component of the NatureMapping project. The IMNH will provide an ideal location for NatureMapping data.

The pilot project for Idaho NatureMapping will involve amphibians and reptiles and will be supported by the ISU Herpetology Laboratory. This inital phase will be conducted by high school teachers in Pocatello and Blackfoot.  Their data will be integrated with the Digital Atlas of Idaho 2000, (which currently houses distribution information on Idaho amphibians, reptiles and other species, as well as information about geology, hydrology, historical geography and climatology for the state). NatureMapping data will be applied to the current Atlas distribution maps, with this information regularly updated online.