OF MAPS AND MYTHS

For many areas of both the developed and developing world, the spatial ly accurate data required to effectively support environmental plannin g, resources management, and public policy decision making do not exis t. There are a variety of reasons for this lack of map data. Mapping i s neither easy or cheap. Issues of both national security and national sovereignty are involved, There is a need to reinvigorate and expand our mapping programs to make them national in focus but global in scop e. It is also essential that a civil agency be given a lead role in gl obal mapping. There is a need to work to break down the barriers that inhibit the open flow of map information that does exist, garner the r esources required to fill in where there are gaps, and support efforts to increase funding for research in mapping and spatial analysis. All this must be done if we are to improve our understanding of our rapid ly changing world.