Nature shapes us.
Now it’s our turn to shape what comes next.
A new project. A mission years in the making.
United by Nature is a national initiative bringing together knowledge, storytelling, and public participation to elevate the role of nature in the U.S.
Our work is rooted in science, guided by communities, and enriched by public participation. We’re led by a diverse, independent team of America’s top scientists, researchers, and practitioners.
Together, we’re creating a clear, accessible picture of nature across the nation and the role it plays in everything from local economies to public health and community resilience.
United by Nature is designed for people who want to act on knowledge, from local leaders to national policymakers to everyday citizens.
The work is influenced by voices across the country through dozens of public conversations. What is emerging is more than a report; it is a foundation for decision-making, collaboration, and meaningful action.
Our long-term vision is a future where nature is part of every conversation about growth, health, security, and prosperity.
The work underway will include resources for local planning and decision-making, art and storytelling to bring nature’s value to life, and a rigorous national assessment of nature’s condition and contributions.
A New Way to See the Whole Picture.
This is more than a report. It's a way to connect, contribute, and act.
With public feedback.
With practical tools.
With decisions shaped by all of us.
A shared understanding.
When we understand nature, we can shape a future where people and places thrive.
That’s why this effort brings together scientists, community leaders, and people from every corner of the country.
An Assessment of Nature
We’re leading the first holistic assessment of U.S. lands, waters, and wildlife, and the benefits they provide.
Coming Soon
Each chapter will explore a different facet of nature’s role in our lives, with a National Academies review in early 2026 and the final release in fall 2026.
View key findings across all chapters, synthesizing our relationship to nature and pathways for action.
The principles and frameworks guiding how we assess nature’s role in people’s lives.
Who benefits from nature, who bears the burdens, and how to center equity in decisions.
Success stories of people and ecosystems thriving together offer lessons to replicate and scale.
How people experience, value, and sustain their connections to nature across the U.S.
Status, trends, and future of the nation’s marine species, habitats, and communities.
The health, trends, and risks facing lakes, rivers, wetlands, and freshwater ecosystems.
How U.S. habitats and species are changing, and what it means for people and landscapes.
The major forces reshaping nature and what integrated responses are needed.
How climate change is transforming ecosystems and how nature can help reduce risks.
The cultural, spiritual, and social values of nature, and inequities in access and recognition.
How nature underpins the U.S. economy and why its value must be better accounted for.
How access to healthy ecosystems supports physical, mental, and community health.
How nature reduces risks and supports national security and resilience in the face of disasters.
Practical steps to create a future where people and nature thrive together.
About us
We believe in the power of nature to connect us. Our independent team invites people across the country to contribute to what we know about nature.
Nature shapes everything we care about, from the water we drink to the security of our communities. When we understand these connections, we can make better decisions and build a future where people and places thrive.
Our work begins with a first‑of‑its‑kind national assessment of U.S. lands, waters, and wildlife, paired with tools and stories to help communities put that knowledge to work.
United by Nature is designed to evolve with input from people of all backgrounds, ensuring nature is woven into everyday decisions and shared priorities.
Staff
Our core team leads the initiative’s coordination and operations.
He is a Professor of Practice and Interim Executive Director of EarthLab at the University of Washington, where he leads efforts to connect science, policy, and community priorities.
A conservation scientist with experience across marine, freshwater, and terrestrial systems, Levin has held senior roles at NOAA and The Nature Conservancy, published over 200 scientific papers and several books, and is widely featured in national media.
An interdisciplinary scientist with expertise in aquatic and urban ecology, she previously served as Lead Ecologist at the UW Tacoma Puget Sound Institute and Managing Director of the Ocean Modeling Forum.
Her work has focused on connecting science to decision-making for ecosystem management, earning her the Northwest Straits Environmental Leadership Award in 2023.
Chapter Leads
Experts and practitioners guide the work of individual chapters, connecting systems and sectors to tell the full story of nature’s role in the U.S.
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 1. Phillip Levin Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 2. Katie Arkema Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 3. Chris Schell Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 4. Timon McPhearson & Emmett Duffy Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 5. Meena Balgopal & John Coley Linkedin
- Chapter 6. Sarah Lester Linkedin
- Chapter 7. Mary Power Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 8. Sharon Collinge Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 9. Danielle Ignace Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 10. Chris Field Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 11. Rachelle Gould Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 12. Rajat Panwar Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 13. Howard Frumkin Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 14. Todd Bridges Linkedin
- Go to Linkedin Page Chapter 15. Patricia Soranno Linkedin
Secretariat
Our primary decision-making body ensures the work remains rigorous, credible, and impactful.
News & Announcements
Stay up to date with team updates and media coverage.
When the first-ever independent assessment of nature in the U.S. was cut short, the team reimagined the work as “something new and more alive,” Phillip Levin wrote in an Earth Day essay for The New York Times.
Get involved
Shared responsibility begins with a shared understanding, rooted in science, Indigenous Knowledge, and local wisdom.