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NatureServe data is widely recognized as the gold standard for biodiversity conservation.

NatureServe maintains standard methods and tools for collecting field data, mapping biological features with high precision, and assessing their conservation status. The NatureServe Network of 1,000 conservation experts in every state and province is trained in our core methodologies, so that our our scientific data is decision-quality, objective, and credible.

Access data through NatureServe Explorer or NatureServe Explorer Pro, or browse our collection of ready-to-go maps and datasets available for free download or for purchase.

Gray treefrog (Dryophytes versicolor). NatureServe Global Status: Secure (G5). Photo by Brett Whaley.

NatureServe Explorer

NatureServe Explorer is the definitive source for information on at-risk species and ecosystems in the Americas. This free online guide is a trusted resource for conservation planners, government agencies, researchers, and land managers. Search for species or ecosystems by name, taxonomy, location, or conservation status and discover detailed profiles with distribution maps.

NatureServe​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Explorer Pro

NatureServe offers subscription access to precise species location details and habitat information through a restricted-access data license delivered through NatureServe​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Explorer Pro, which extends the capability of NatureServe Explorer. Sign up for an Explorer Pro account to access enhanced mapping tools and downloadable high-resolution datasets. Learn more about NatureServe​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ Explorer Pro.

Photo by martinm303.

Downloadable Data Products

U.S. Map of At-Risk Species by County or Watershed

This dataset includes counts and lists of all species for which NatureServe has data available by county or watershed in the U.S.

Map of Biodiversity Importance

NatureServe’s Map of Biodiversity Importance is available on Esri’s Living Atlas of the World, providing an unprecedented, high-resolution view of the places that matter most for sustaining our nation’s biodiversity. By applying cutting-edge machine learning technology to 50 years of field data collected by the NatureServe Network of Natural Heritage Programs, and collaborative review from ecologists, botanists, and zoologists across the United States, the Map of Biodiversity Importance arms resource managers and conservationists with critical information needed to strategically address the extinction crisis.

There are 15 map layers, now available on Esri’s Living Atlas. Users can interact with these data and analyze them using the ArcGIS Platform.

Heller's blazingstar (Liatris helleri). NatureServe Global Status: Imperiled (G2). Photo by Gary Peeples, USFWS.

Looking for something specific?
Contact us!

Not quite finding what you want in our standard online data products? NatureServe can provide custom datasets and analyses designed to meet your specific needs.

NatureServe can provide both non-spatial and spatially explicit information for species and ecosystems either regionally or nationally. We can provide data products in a variety of formats from simple Excel spreadsheets, map images, or GIS layers, to more complex relational Access databases, Geodatabases, or custom Map Services. For data within a single state or province, contact your local NatureServe Network program.

To submit a custom data request, please contact us at datasupport@natureserve.org or click the button below.