NANTUCKET BIODIVERSITY INITIATIVE

Mission Statement

The mission of the Nantucket Biodiversity Initiative (NBI) is to support and convey a deeper understanding of the biodiversity of Nantucket, Tuckernuck, Muskeget, and their associated waters by fostering collaboration, funding and facilitating research, and sharing scientific knowledge.

Objectives

Partnerships:

• Facilitate partnerships with conservation and research organizations, educational institutions, government agencies, local businesses, and individuals.

Expansion of Biodiversity Knowledge:

• Provide a consistent, local funding source for biodiversity research projects;

• Prioritize projects that involve rare species, multispecies analyses, and larger scale regional efforts;

• Support research that documents island species through population monitoring, recording range shifts and incorporating climate change data;

• Coordinate the deposition and management of data, reports, and biological specimens at appropriate institutions; 

Biodiversity Knowledge Transfer:

• Create opportunities for the public to learn about Nantucket’s unique species and diverse ecosystems;

• Provide equitable access to biodiversity information to all;

• Coordinate scientific communication between researchers and the public;

• Serve as a biodiversity resource and advising authority.

Support Community Science and Stewardship:

• Detect non-native invasive species and prioritize their management based on the threat they pose to biodiversity;

• Assess aquatic threats, catalogue trends, and increase awareness of their impact.