Biodiversity Data
Global Biodiversity Data
| Indicies | Description | Data Access |
|---|---|---|
| Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) | GBIF is an international data network that collects biodiversity related occurrence data from thousands of different sources including governments, museums, studies, journals, and popular consumer tools such as eBird and iNaturalist. The site contains vast amounts of data that can be refined to singular regions or species. | GBIF Homepage |
| Living Planet Index (LPI) | The LPI is a large scale biodiversity database that collects information on documented vertebrate populations. It is a key component of the WWF Living Planet Report, which is produced by the World Wildlife Fund in collaboration with the Zoological Society of London and other partners. The Index provides insights into trends in global biodiversity by tracking changes in populations of vertebrate species over time. It is a valuable tool for understanding the impact of human activities on wildlife. The index tracks population trends of thousands of vertebrate species, normalizing the data to account for variations in population size. The data spans from the year 1970 to the present, and describes vertebrate populations from locations across the globe. | LPI Homepage |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species describes the global extinction risk status of plant, animal, and fungus species. It is managed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, a global organization that works on environmental conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. The IUCN Red List assesses the conservation status of species based on criteria such as population size, distribution, and trends, placing them into one of seven threat categories: Least Concerned, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, or Extinct. | IUCN Homepage |
| Biodiversity Heritage Library (BHL) | The BHL is a publically available online repository of biodiversity related literature with entries dating back to 1469 CE. The library includes a wide range of scientific media such as studies, journals, and catalogues that provide data on biodiversity related topics ranging in scale. In addition to data, these resources can inform specific aspects of biodiversity on a case by case basis. | BHL Homepage |
| United States Geographical Survey (USGS)
Data Tools |
The USGS builds and contributes to a variety of biodiversity related tools and indices. These include the Tagged Animal Movement Explorer, GBIF, Amphibian and Reptile Species Distribution Explorer, Integrated Taxonomic Information Systems, the US Protected Areas Database, the World Terrestrial Ecosystems Explorer, and the US Introduced and Invasive Species Map. | USGS Biodiversity Tool Selection |
| Earth Science Data Systems (ESDS) Program | Earth Data, by NASA, is a satellite based remote monitoring tool which collects data into four main categories: vegetation characteristics, spectroscopy, human impacts, and species distribution. Data from these categories can be fine tuned to assist in the analysis of many sustainability challenges including air quality, agriculture and water management, biological diversity and ecological conservation, water quality, and many more. | Biological Diversity and Ecological Conservation Data Pathfinder |
| UN Biodiversity Lab | The UN Biodiversity Lab is an open source spatial data tool that combines data from a variety of sources including satellites, scientists, and indigenous communities to construct a global modeling tool. Layers can be applied to filter data interests toward almost any conservation goal, ranging from water scarcity to above ground woody carbon density to chlorophyll concentration in sea water and many more. | UN Biodiversity Lab Map |
Finance Related Biodiversity Data
| Indicies | Description | Data Access |
|---|---|---|
| ENCORE
(Exploring Natural Capital Opportunities, Risks and Exposure) |
ENCORE is a free to access financial analysis tool designed to evaluate and present the dependency of various industries on biodiversity and ecosystem services, as well as potential impact in the face of biodiversity loss. A standout feature of ENCORE is the ability to analyze an industry's reliance on a specific ecosystem service, which is then ranked from VH (very high), to L (low). Additionally, ENCORE leverages spatial data to create a global mapping interface customized toward several key ecosystem services. Each layer within this mapping tool provides a link to the source data. | ENCORE Homepage |
| InVEST
(Integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Tradeoffs) |
The InVEST tool is an open-source software suite developed by the Natural Capital Project that helps users assess the value of ecosystems and their services. It models how changes in land use, climate, and management decisions affect ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration, water quality, biodiversity, and coastal protection. InVEST enables users to visualize trade-offs between environmental and economic outcomes, providing valuable insights for sustainable development planning, conservation strategies, and natural resource management. The tool is widely used by governments, businesses, and researchers for ecosystem service valuation and decision-making. The software is aimed at providing spatial financial dependence data on a variety of ecosystem services, including sustainable development challenges such as urban cooling and wave power generation. InVEST has also provided the methodology behind the analytical process for each tool, allowing users to ensure accurate results. | InVEST Homepage |
| SEEA (System of Environmental Economic Accounting) | Founded by the United Nations, the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting is an internationally recognized framework that integrates environmental and economic data to provide a comprehensive view of the relationship between the economy and the environment. It enables countries to assess and account for natural capital, including ecosystems, biodiversity, and the services they provide, in monetary and physical terms. The SEEA framework helps policymakers and businesses understand the economic value of natural resources, manage them sustainably, and evaluate the impacts of economic activities on ecosystems. It supports the development of environmental policies and sustainable development goals. | SEEA Homepage |
Risk Assessment Use Cases
| Press | Description | Link |
|---|---|---|
| "The hidden value of trees: Quantifying the ecosystem services of tree lineages and their major threats across the contiguous US" | Tools used: GBIF
This study evaluates how U.S. trees contribute to human well-being by using data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) to estimate the value of key ecosystem services. The study finds that U.S. trees provide approximately $114 billion in benefits each year, with services like carbon storage and air filtration being much more valuable than the commercial uses of wood and food. Pines and oaks make up 42% of these benefits, but many tree species are increasingly at risk due to climate change, fires, pests, and diseases. About 40% of the country’s tree biomass is threatened by pests, and trees that store large amounts of carbon are especially vulnerable to fires. The study also points out that the wide variety of tree species in U.S. forests helps protect against major losses in ecosystem services if key species are harmed. By using GBIF data, this research highlights the importance of biodiversity databases for Natural Capital Accounting, helping to measure the value of nature’s services and inform policies that protect vital resources. |
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| "Ethiopia - Developing an Investment Prioritization Tool to Combat Land Degradation" | Tools used: InVEST
This study, utilizing Stanford’s InVEST tool, addresses Ethiopia’s pressing environmental challenge of land degradation, which severely impacts agricultural productivity. Despite significant economic growth and poverty reduction, Ethiopia’s rural population—80% of its 120 million people—remains highly vulnerable to climate change and unsustainable land practices, such as deforestation, free grazing, and poor tillage. To combat these issues, the Ethiopian government, with support from the World Bank, is shifting toward sustainable land management (SLM) practices that reward communities for improving ecosystem services rather than just providing inputs. To support this shift, the study developed an Investment Prioritization Tool (IPT), in collaboration with the Ethiopian Ministry of Agriculture, to assess ecosystem services and identify priority watersheds for investment. By combining ecosystem service data with climate and policy scenarios, the tool highlights areas where targeted investments can enhance sustainability, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience. This initiative, part of the broader Natural Capital Accounting effort, aims to link ecosystem improvements to economic outcomes, offering a strategic approach for Ethiopia’s sustainable development. |
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| "Experimental Environmental-Economic Accounts for the Great Barrier Reef" | Tools used: SEEA Framework
This experimental publication focuses on the Great Barrier Reef, a globally significant coral reef system off Australia’s northeastern coast. Spanning over 2,300 kilometers, the GBR is the world’s largest coral reef and a UNESCO World Heritage site. The study utilizes the System of Environmental-Economic Accounting: Experimental Ecosystem Accounting (SEEA-EEA) framework to integrate and track both biophysical and economic data related to the GBR’s ecosystems. This framework helps measure the value of ecosystem services provided by the GBR’s terrestrial and marine environments. One key finding is the estimation of ecosystem service inputs and tourism rent, using a resource rent methodology. This approach calculates the value contributed by the ecosystem to production after accounting for human inputs like labor and capital. The study provides insights into the economic benefits of the GBR’s ecosystems, including those related to agriculture, forestry, fishing, aquaculture, and tourism, while also highlighting the publication’s experimental nature and the need for stakeholder feedback to refine methods and data sources in future updates. |
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| "The economic value of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest ecosystem services: A meta-analysis of the Brazilian literature" | Tools used: TEEB, WAVES
This study aims to assess the economic value of the Brazilian Amazon’s ecosystem services for the Brazilian population, using a meta-analysis of nearly 30 years of Brazilian valuation literature. By focusing on locally derived values, the study highlights the importance of preserving the Amazon rainforest. The research examines key ecosystem services such as habitat provision, carbon sequestration, water regulation, recreation, and ecotourism, estimating an average value of approximately $410 USD per hectare per year. However, the data reveals significant variability, as reflected in a large standard deviation, and between 50% and 70% of this variation can be explained through meta-regression models. The findings underscore the need for a more standardized framework for ecosystem service valuation to ensure accurate scaling and aggregation across the entire Amazon region. |
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