Comment Letter on the National Nature Assessment
As professionals focused on speeding up environmental progress, we believe that the National Nature Assessment (NNA) is a historic opportunity to advance the nation’s understanding of nature, how it is changing, and the benefits gained or lost as a result. This NNA will establish many of the key practices for organizing and conducting future assessments. To help maximize the usefulness and long-term value of the NNA in understanding and managing changes to nature, we made comments and recommendations in three areas:
Restoration Decisions and Use Cases: The NNA should provide information about the condition of natural resources to help prioritize restoration and mitigation efforts.
Inclusivity, Accessibility, and Engagement: Invest in proactive, intentional outreach with consideration for the time and resources needed to engage with government agencies.
Collaboration around Data and Decision-Making Tools: Use the NNA as a platform to curate information, connect related systems, integrate government and third-party data, and spur tool development using leading practices like human-centered design.
