The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy today announced that comments are being sought by Friday, March 31 on the framing, development, and eventual use of the first National Nature Assessment.
The U.S. Global Change Research Program committed to conducting the Assessment in April, and President Biden directed that the assessment be conducted in his April 22, 2022 Executive Order on Strengthening the Nation’s Forests, Communities, and Local Economies.
The announcement notes that the United States lacks comprehensive knowledge of changes in nature and how they affect the nation, with the Assessment to address the status, observed trends, and future projections of U.S. lands, waters, wildlife, biodiversity, and ecosystems and the socioeconomic, environmental, health, and national security benefits they provide.
Areas of specific inquiry relate to the development of an Assessment that is driven by the potential use of the final product, the definition of nature, identification of relevant knowledge sources, and public engagement.
