Free Interactive Report

Life on Land and Nature Conservation in the US

UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 15, Life on Land, aims to protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, and end biodiversity loss by 2030.

In the US, the Endangered Species Act (ESA) is the main law protecting threatened and endangered species and the habitats they rely on. It is estimated that 99% of species protected under the ESA avoid extinction. Grizzly bears, humpback whales, and bald eagles are just a few of the roughly 291 species that have been saved from extinction as a result of the ESA. Currently, 1,665 species found in the US are listed as endangered or threatened under the ESA.

Everything that makes the planet inhabitable is supported by biodiversity. It is essential for creating the food, air, water, and energy we all depend on, and underpins many industries including agriculture, construction, fisheries, and tourism. Biodiversity is most threatened by land-use changes, climate change, pollution, resource exploitation, and invasive species, especially when these challenges are found in forest ecosystems - which are home to more than 80% of all terrestrial species of animals, plants, and insects and cover 1/3 of the Earth’s surface.

Use the tool below to view biodiversity-related indicators nationally or by state, as well as an overview of the more than 11,200 nonprofits organizations that work on addressing related issues in the US. You can also discover 179 products and services in our Tech for Good Directory related to endangered species, land use, extinction and other key areas of biodiversity conservation.

Forests and Land Use in the US
Darker color means more forest in a state*. Click on any state to see details on this and all other indicators.
39.8%
Percent of land
that is farmland
2.6%
Percent of farmland
participating in the
Conservation
Reserve Program*
35.2%
Percent of land
that is forest
1,665
Endangered &
threatened species
listed under the
Endangered
Species Act
Acres of Land Burned By Wildfires
UN SDG 15 Nonprofit Landscape
(based on IRS forms 990 and 990EZ)
10,331
Organizations
$21B
Annual Income
$2M
Avg. Income
Wildlife Preservation & Protection
1,292
Organizations
$3B
Annual Income
$2M
Avg. Income
Natural Resources Conservation & Protection
5,709
Organizations
$10B
Annual Income
$2M
Avg. Income
Revenue sources for these organizations
Related Nonprofits
Below is a preview of the more than 10,000 organizations working on challenges related to biodiversity in the US. Click on any organization to see more details including its NTEE Code, EIN, Annual Revenue and Impact Area. Contact Us to license the full list of organizations.
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Interactive Report Notes:

* The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) is one of the largest private lands conservation programs in the US. It is run by the USDA Farm Service Agency where farmers volunteer to sign on to 10-15 year contracts and remove environmentally sensitive land from agricultural production and plant species that will improve environmental health with the goal of improving water quality, reducing soil erosion, and increasing habitat for endangered and threatened species.

Sources:

  • Forest Coverage: USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory & Analysis 2019 & USDA Forest Service State and Private Forestry Fact Sheets 2021 (accessed via National Association of State Foresters)
  • Endangered and Threatened Species: US Fish & Wildlife Service Environmental Conservation Online System 2021
  • Farmland data: USDA ERS 2021 & The Agriculture Census 2017
  • Total Acres and % Forest Burned: National Interagency Fire Center Wildfires and Acres Statistics 2002 -2020 and GC Insights analysis of
  • Nonprofit-related data: GC Insights analysis of over one million forms 990 filed with the Internal Revenue Service -IRS 2018-2020

Other Sources:

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