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Strategic Plan Pictured below: NatureServe network member Pronatura Veracruz enhances public understanding NatureServe envisions a world where decision-makers recognize the value of biodiversity, fully of species and ecosystem science by focusing A NATURAL HERITAGE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT attention on an annual phenomenon known as understand the importance of science in the protection of biodiversity, and invest in science the “River of Raptors” — the world’s largest hawk migration. (Photo © Jesús Eduardo Martínez Leyva) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS FROM THE PAST FIVE YEARS as the basis for their decisions that affect biodiversity. • Providing data and expertise to millions of • Working with local partners from users by fulfilling 30,000,000 individual Paraguay to Alaska to engage stakeholders information requests over five years — a rate and train practitioners in place-based of 6,000,000 queries each year, or one request conservation planning THE PLAN every five seconds • Advancing the protection of biodiversity To guide our work for the next five years, we GUIDING CONSERVATION IMPACT • Documenting more than 300,000 new locations hotspots from rapid infrastructure have assessed the status of our network, the for at-risk species, publishing updated development in support of sustainable context in which we operate, and the driving NatureServe is most effective when decision- information via NatureServe Explorer while and functioning ecosystems forces that will shape how we achieve mission makers use our knowledge and services to raising the total number of mapped locations focus scarce resources on the highest priority • Organizing biodiversity information to impact. This executive summary provides an to nearly 1,000,000 conservation activities; to manage working answer key management questions related to overview of NatureServe’s 2012-2016 Strategic lands on behalf of biodiversity; to improve • Producing the first standardized maps of recreation, energy, and forestry development Plan. To read or download the complete plan, visit the environmental quality of infrastructure ecosystems in the Americas www.natureserve.org/strategic_plan. • Establishing our annual Biodiversity Without development; and to support other societal needs • Providing data-system services that make Boundaries conference as a marquee event in ways that preserve biological diversity. biodiversity conservation more efficient from for our member network, natural resource STRATEGIC PLAN 2012–2016 We can further increase and direct our federal agencies to local communities in the practitioners, and scientific colleagues A NETWORK CONNECTING conservation impact by proactively developing U.S., Canada, and Central and South America SCIENCE WITH CONSERVATION • Collaborating on the publication of a standard key data analyses and syntheses that incorporate • Putting critical information in the hands Coastal Marine Ecosystem Classification EXECUTIVE SUMMARY More than 1,000 professionals constitute the other authoritative non-biodiversity data. Our of resource managers and decision-makers System (CMECS) for describing coastal and NatureServe network. These dedicated staff pursuit of these outcomes will reduce threats to with tools like NatureServe Vista and offshore marine habitats collect and manage the Western Hemisphere’s biodiversity, yielding positive results in the form Current Constituent NatureServe Surveyor most comprehensive source of biodiversity data. of reduced species extinction risk, fewer imperiled Members of the • Creating LandScope America in collaboration NatureServe Network This resource contains nearly 1,000,000 mapped ecosystems, and more robust ecosystem function • Developing sound methodologies for ecological with the National Geographic Society to guide locations of at-risk species and ecosystems, across landscapes. The NatureServe network assessments, including the likely impacts of U.S. practitioners, policy-makers, and citizens providing extensive information on more than of 2012 includes more By providing the scientific basis for actions that than 80 public and private climate change on species, ecosystems, and towards shared conservation priorities and 66,400 species and 6,700 ecosystems. member programs places like wildlife refuges and parks strategic partnerships conserve the rare and imperiled species and throughout the United States, Each member of the NatureServe network uses threatened ecosystems of the Western Hemisphere Canada, and Latin America. consistent methods adapted to local conservation We also engage partners — and indeed, the world — we will extend and influence conservation biodiversity-information needs and challenges, what eminent biologist and 2011 NatureServe in dozens of other countries creating a resilient, distributed system for Conservation Award winner Dr. E. O. Wilson elsewhere the hemisphere and connecting on-the-ground science to local, in Africa, Asia, and Australia. calls “the vital, the necessary, and the increasingly View our current member list at national, and global policy- and decision-making. impressive enterprise that is NatureServe.” www.natureserve.org/network. Providing the scientific basis for effective conservation action To learn more or donate, visit www.natureserve.org Pictured below: NatureServe network member Pronatura Veracruz enhances public understanding NatureServe envisions a world where decision-makers recognize the value of biodiversity, fully of species and ecosystem science by focusing A NATURAL HERITAGE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT attention on an annual phenomenon known as understand the importance of science in the protection of biodiversity, and invest in science the “River of Raptors” — the world’s largest hawk migration. (Photo © Jesús Eduardo Martínez Leyva) NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS FROM THE PAST FIVE YEARS as the basis for their decisions that affect biodiversity. • Providing data and expertise to millions of • Working with local partners from users by fulfilling 30,000,000 individual Paraguay to Alaska to engage stakeholders information requests over five years — a rate and train practitioners in place-based of 6,000,000 queries each year, or one request conservation planning THE PLAN every five seconds • Advancing the protection of biodiversity To guide our work for the next five years, we GUIDING CONSERVATION IMPACT • Documenting more than 300,000 new locations hotspots from rapid infrastructure have assessed the status of our network, the for at-risk species, publishing updated development in support of sustainable context in which we operate, and the driving NatureServe is most effective when decision- information via NatureServe Explorer while and functioning ecosystems forces that will shape how we achieve mission makers use our knowledge and services to raising the total number of mapped locations focus scarce resources on the highest priority • Organizing biodiversity information to impact. This executive summary provides an to nearly 1,000,000 conservation activities; to manage working answer key management questions related to overview of NatureServe’s 2012-2016 Strategic lands on behalf of biodiversity; to improve • Producing the first standardized maps of recreation, energy, and forestry development Plan. To read or download the complete plan, visit the environmental quality of infrastructure ecosystems in the Americas www.natureserve.org/strategic_plan. • Establishing our annual Biodiversity Without development; and to support other societal needs • Providing data-system services that make Boundaries conference as a marquee event in ways that preserve biological diversity. biodiversity conservation more efficient from for our member network, natural resource STRATEGIC PLAN 2012–2016 We can further increase and direct our federal agencies to local communities in the practitioners, and scientific colleagues A NETWORK CONNECTING conservation impact by proactively developing U.S., Canada, and Central and South America SCIENCE WITH CONSERVATION • Collaborating on the publication of a standard key data analyses and syntheses that incorporate • Putting critical information in the hands Coastal Marine Ecosystem Classification EXECUTIVE SUMMARY More than 1,000 professionals constitute the other authoritative non-biodiversity data. Our of resource managers and decision-makers System (CMECS) for describing coastal and NatureServe network. These dedicated staff pursuit of these outcomes will reduce threats to with tools like NatureServe Vista and offshore marine habitats collect and manage the Western Hemisphere’s biodiversity, yielding positive results in the form Current Constituent NatureServe Surveyor most comprehensive source of biodiversity data. of reduced species extinction risk, fewer imperiled Members of the • Creating LandScope America in collaboration NatureServe Network This resource contains nearly 1,000,000 mapped ecosystems, and more robust ecosystem function • Developing sound methodologies for ecological with the National Geographic Society to guide locations of at-risk species and ecosystems, across landscapes. The NatureServe network assessments, including the likely impacts of U.S. practitioners, policy-makers, and citizens providing extensive information on more than of 2012 includes more By providing the scientific basis for actions that than 80 public and private climate change on species, ecosystems, and towards shared conservation priorities and 66,400 species and 6,700 ecosystems. member programs places like wildlife refuges and parks strategic partnerships conserve the rare and
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