The Nature Activation Hub at the Nicholas Institute is exploring ideas for a new federal nature statistical strategy to coordinate and streamline nature data sharing and facilitate nature-related decision-making.
How is nature data collected in the United States now?
Currently, many federal agencies collect and manage nature data to support differing programmatic and regulatory functions—with little coordination. This fragmentation creates challenges for effectively using the data for decision-making and for assessing trends in the status of natural and working lands and waters.
Why is it important to have comprehensive data about nature?
The United States is working to pull together its national nature data to help illuminate how nature impacts local and national economies, as well as the health and safety of our communities. For example, a new coordinated strategy could yield important insights from forest data about wildfire risks to communities, the health impacts of smoke, and the costs and benefits of timber production.
How could the private sector benefit?
Cohesive national data could support the private sector’s efforts to measure companies’ impacts on nature. In particular, this effort could assist multinational corporations that operate in Europe and are subject to disclosure requirements.
