About Us

The National Land and Water Information Service

The National Land and Water Information Service is an Internet-based service being developed over the next four years to provide on-line access to agri-environmental information to help Canadians make responsible land-use decisions. The federal government is investing $100.1 million to implement the new service.

The first phase of project implementation began in May 2005, following formal approval by Treasury Board. When the project is completed in 2009, the National Land and Water Information Service will be recognized as Canada's source of information, analysis and interpretation of agri-environmental data on land use, soil, water, climate and biodiversity to assist land-use decision makers. These land-use decision makers include governments, community groups, researchers, producers and industry.

• Collaborative Approach
• Agri-environmental Goals
• Potential Benefits
• Phases of Implementation
• Levels of Service

Collaborative Approach

The National Land and Water Information Service will be built on a foundation of partnerships and collaboration. The project is being led by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). Close collaboration with other federal departments, provincial, territorial and municipal governments, non-government organizations, producer and industry groups, and academic institutions will lead to the success of the service. The National Land and Water Information Service will link agri-environmental information from these dispersed sources and make it available through a recognized point of entry on the Internet.

Provincial Working Groups have been established to help identify business requirements and priorities, provide advice and communicate project activities. The project is based on Geographic Information System (GIS) technology following national standards and specifications, as well as federal geomatics policies and practices, to achieve an approach that will be responsive to clients' needs and coordinated across Canada's geographic information community.

Agri-environmental Goals

By providing geospatial information, decision-support tools and improvements in national data collection, analysis and reporting, the National Land and Water Information Service will support a number of environmental programs under the Agricultural Policy Framework. Included in these programs are Environmental Farm Plans and Environmental Assessments, Greencover, National Farm Stewardship, National Water Supply Expansion and Water Quality Surveillance. This Service will benefit the agricultural sector and all Canadians by contributing to the development of better agri-environmental policies, increasing public awareness of the relationship between agriculture and the environment, and improving land-use decision making and risk management.

Development of the National Land and Water Information Service will build on other efforts to reduce agricultural risks and better use Canada's land, soil, water and biodiversity resources. Among these efforts are initiatives to

• identify beneficial management practices (BMPs) that protect land from wind and water erosion, improve water supply and quality, enhance biodiversity and increase carbon sequestration in the soil;
• help producers adopt these BMPs for soil, nutrient and livestock management;
• measure and track the environmental performance of Canadian agriculture.

Potential Benefits

Currently, the information Canadians need to make responsible agri-environmental decisions is either not available or not easily accessible. The National Land and Water Information Service will provide on-line access to current and relevant agri-environmental information on a local, regional and national scale. Examples of decisions that will be supported relate to protection of ground and surface water, adoption of soil stewardship practices and cost analysis in implementing appropriate fencing around riparian areas.

One of the potential benefits from this Service is the more effective use of GIS mapping technology for agri-environmental planning in rural municipalities. For example, analysis of detailed geospatial information on soil types, ground cover, soil drainage and setback distances from manure storage would encourage responsible environmental choices. When fully operational in 2009, the National Land and Water Information Service will make that kind of capability accessible through its Web site and will also provide expertise to help land-use decision makers interpret the information.

Improved access to information that is reliable, consistent and up-to-date will help balance economic development and environmental sustainability. It will also contribute to regional and rural economic growth. The Service will assist clients in understanding and applying the information to encourage responsible land-use decisions.

Phases of Implementation

The National Land and Water Information Service will be introduced in four phases over four years, with each phase bringing increased levels of service and benefits to users:

• In Phase 1, which was completed on March 31, 2006, applications, data and tools situated in various Web pages on the AAFC Online Web site were brought into a new Internet portal that will make access much easier. Several new applications, including the Land Resource Viewer, were created and made available on-line.
• In Phase 2, the information technology platform for the new Service will be built and mechanisms will be established to manage and house agri-environmental geospatial information on the Internet according to national standards and policies.
• In Phase 3, the National Land and Water Information Service will make accessible new GIS applications and services to users across Canada. It will provide direct access to geospatial data, maps and tools and develop improved Web-based services. Users will be able to access information and data in both official languages and in standardized formats.
• In Phase 4, the access and linkages to data provided by other organizations will be enriched and new releases of products will be made available, enhancing the Service's capacity to provide value-added resource information and expertise in support of land-use decision making.

To date, several agreements to access data have been signed with provincial and federal departments and agencies, and others are in negotiation. The end of Phase 1 has seen the Service’s new Web site go on-line, bringing over 20 existing and several new AAFC applications and relevant data into its new Internet portal. Many of the applications were developed with other organizations which contributed their expertise and data. Over the course of the project, the National Land and Water Information Service will acquire new data, continue collaborating with data providers, create new applications and pursue consultations with stakeholders to ensure that the Service meets their needs. By 2009, the full Service will deliver Web-based maps, data, tools and expertise.

Levels of Service

The National Land and Water Information Service will provide three levels of user support:

• Self Service - an on-line help menu for general information, frequently asked questions, and directions on how to search and navigate the Web site;
• Assisted Service - assistance through tutorials or help via the National Land and Water Information Service Office (underdevelopment);
• Custom Service - applications or interpretations created in collaboration with clients.

This Major Crown Project is an investment in agri-environmental sustainability. When fully operational, the new Service will help transform the way land-use decisions are made in Canada.

Please book this Web site and come back often for current information about this important initiative.