PITTSBORO, NC — The Chatham County Planning Department, in partnership with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission and the Chatham County Conservation Working Group, have launched a comprehensive Conservation Dashboard that measures progress toward the conservation goals established in Plan Chatham, the County's comprehensive plan adopted in 2017.

The dashboard, built through ArcGIS Hub and completed in June 2026, represents the first quantifiable review of the County's conservation-based goals. It serves as both a record of accomplishments since Plan Chatham's adoption and a planning tool to help identify future conservation priorities.

WHAT: Launch of the Chatham County Conservation Dashboard

WHERE: Online at https://conservationdashboard-chathamncgis.hub.arcgis.com/

WHEN: Available now

The Conservation Dashboard marks the completion of Phase One of a two-phase conservation initiative led by the Chatham County Planning Department. Phase Two will use the dashboard's findings to identify conservation objectives that have not yet been achieved and develop a detailed implementation plan with actionable next steps.

The project was funded through the Chatham County budget and the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission's Green Growth Toolbox and Partners for Green Growth Grant. The County's Conservation & Resiliency Planner led project coordination, data collection, and dashboard development with support from the Chatham County Conservation Working Group, an interdisciplinary team of County staff dedicated to advancing conservation initiatives.

"This project reflects our commitment to understanding what conservation goals Chatham County has accomplished since 2017," said Erin Ansbro, Conservation & Resiliency Planner for the Chatham County Planning Department. "The updated knowledge and data will help inform various departments' conservation efforts, create opportunities for greater collaboration between departments, and guide the next phase of the project toward objectives we have yet to achieve."

The dashboard is designed to support County planners and departments in shaping future conservation efforts while also providing residents with greater insight into Chatham County's ongoing conservation work and progress.

Residents can explore the Conservation Dashboard at https://conservationdashboard-chathamncgis.hub.arcgis.com/. For more information, contact the Chatham County Planning Department at erin.ansbro@chathamcountync.gov or visit www.chathamcountync.gov/planning.