From the most far-off pristine areas to the most threatened, we deploy teams of scientists around the globe to find out what's there and what's missing.
Sometimes they discover all kinds of life the world never knew existed. Sometimes they find species we thought we had lost forever. Other times, they're messengers of bad news, alerting us to wildlife on the brink of extinction or those that have disappeared forever.
Difficult-to-reach places are, understandably, often poorly understood. Our Rapid Assessment Program aims to shed much-needed light on these spots. We send research teams on speedy expeditions to our priority areas, where they explore and record what wildlife exists. This data helps scientists determine whether a species or site is threatened.
Besides doing quick surveys, we also monitor long-term trends in biodiversity. Using a network of field stations in the tropics, our Tropical Ecology, Assessment, and Monitoring (TEAM) program serves as an early warning system about wildlife under threat. Each station monitors how climate change, habitat loss, and other environmental factors are affecting an area’s biodiversity.
We make our extensive scientific results accessible and immediately available to decision-makers and other research institutions. That way, they can develop the most appropriate and effective actions and policies to protect life on Earth.