Geographic Information Systems: Applications in Natural Resource Management is intended for introductory-course students in forestry and natural resource management, field forestry, biology, and other natural resource or natural resource-related fields. The emphasis of this book is on the application of Geographic Information systems (GIS). It provides detailed coverage of GIS operations such as querying, buffering, clipping, and overlay analysis; as well as background information on the history of GIS, database creation, editing and acquisition, and map development. The applications provided can be extended to any region of the world, although the primary emphasis is on Canada and the rest of North America. This book also examines current GIS trends and the opportunities and challenges likely to face GIS users.