About
NatureServe has spent nearly 50 years building the most comprehensive biodiversity knowledge base in North America, aggregating data from 60+ network organizations and over 1,000 scientific experts and conservation professionals. Their database covers more than 100,000 species, 7,000 classified ecosystems, and 1,000,000+ mapped locations—all continuously updated to reflect conservation status and emerging threats. Their flagship products include NatureServe Explorer (a free, publicly accessible species database), NatureServe Explorer Pro (enhanced access for professionals), and InSite by NatureServe, a next-generation site-level biodiversity intelligence tool covering the contiguous United States. InSite delivers instant, location-specific biodiversity reports, making it invaluable for environmental impact assessments, land-use planning, and corporate sustainability reporting. NatureServe data powers decisions across multiple sectors—from federal land managers protecting imperiled habitats to businesses assessing environmental risk in their supply chains. With 900,000 annual users, the platform bridges science and policy, translating biodiversity signals into actionable conservation intelligence. Educational resources like the Biodiversity for Beginners e-booklet expand public engagement. Whether you are a researcher, regulator, developer, or conservationist, NatureServe provides the trusted, peer-reviewed biodiversity data needed to protect species and ecosystems for future generations.
Key Features
- Comprehensive Species & Ecosystem Database: Tracks over 100,000 species and 7,000 ecosystems with conservation status assessments, threat evaluations, and more than 1,000,000 mapped locations across North America.
- NatureServe Explorer & Explorer Pro: Free and professional-tier web tools providing detailed species profiles, distribution maps, and conservation status data for researchers, agencies, and the public.
- InSite by NatureServe: A next-generation site-level biodiversity intelligence tool that delivers instant, location-specific reports for any site in the contiguous United States—ideal for environmental impact assessments and land-use planning.
- Network-Driven Data Collection: Aggregates field data from 60+ member programs and 1,000+ conservation scientists to ensure locally verified, scientifically rigorous biodiversity information.
- Conservation Status Assessments: Provides globally standardized NatureServe conservation status ranks (G1–G5) for species and ecosystems, enabling consistent, comparable conservation prioritization.
Use Cases
- Environmental impact assessments: developers and planners use InSite to instantly identify imperiled species and ecosystems at a project site before breaking ground.
- Federal and state land management: agencies consult NatureServe conservation status ranks to prioritize habitat protection and recovery actions for at-risk species.
- Corporate ESG and sustainability reporting: businesses assess biodiversity risk in their operations and supply chains using NatureServe site-level intelligence.
- Academic and conservation research: scientists access the 100,000+ species database to analyze population trends, threats, and distribution patterns across North America.
- Education and public outreach: teachers, parents, and students use free NatureServe resources like Biodiversity for Beginners to understand and advocate for biodiversity conservation.
Pros
- Unmatched Scientific Authority: Nearly 50 years of peer-reviewed data collection, backed by a network of 1,000+ experts, makes NatureServe the gold standard for biodiversity intelligence in North America.
- Free Public Access to Core Data: NatureServe Explorer offers no-cost access to species profiles and conservation rankings, making critical biodiversity data accessible to researchers, educators, and the public.
- Actionable Site-Level Intelligence: InSite delivers precise, location-specific biodiversity reports that streamline environmental due diligence for developers, planners, and land managers.
- Cross-Sector Utility: Serves a diverse user base of 900,000 annually, including federal agencies, NGOs, Fortune 500 companies, and academic institutions.
Cons
- Advanced Tools Require Payment: InSite by NatureServe and Explorer Pro are paid products, which may limit access for smaller organizations or individual researchers with constrained budgets.
- Coverage Primarily North American: While the network has global ties, the most detailed and comprehensive data focuses on North America, limiting utility for international biodiversity assessments.
- Data Update Cadence Varies: Species and ecosystem records depend on volunteer network contributions, meaning update frequency can vary by region and taxon.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is NatureServe Explorer and is it free?
NatureServe Explorer is a free, publicly accessible online database providing species profiles, distribution maps, and conservation status information for plants, animals, and ecosystems across North America. An enhanced Explorer Pro version is available for professional users requiring more detailed data access.
What is InSite by NatureServe?
InSite is a next-generation biodiversity intelligence tool that provides instant, site-level reports for any location in the lower 48 United States. It is designed for environmental impact assessments, land-use planning, and corporate sustainability reporting, and is available through a paid store.
Who uses NatureServe data?
NatureServe serves approximately 900,000 annual users, including federal and state land managers, NGOs, environmental consultants, academic researchers, and businesses conducting environmental due diligence or ESG reporting.
How does NatureServe assign conservation status ranks?
NatureServe uses a standardized global ranking system (G1 through G5) to assess the conservation status of species and ecosystems, where G1 indicates critically imperiled and G5 indicates secure. These ranks are determined by network scientists based on population size, range, threats, and trend data.
How can I access NatureServe data for development or research projects?
Researchers and developers can access NatureServe data through the free NatureServe Explorer portal, via Explorer Pro for advanced queries, through InSite for site-specific reports, or by submitting a data request for custom datasets. Data use terms and citation requirements apply to all uses.
