# NatureServe Explorer

> online database providing information for more than 95,000 plants and animals in the United States and Canada, and more than 10,000 vegetation communities and ecological systems in the Western Hemisphere

**Wikidata**: [Q107171828](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q107171828)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/natureserve-explorer

## Summary
NatureServe Explorer is an online database and website that provides authoritative information on biodiversity and ecological systems. It maintains data on more than 95,000 plants and animals in the United States and Canada, as well as over 10,000 vegetation communities and ecological systems across the Western Hemisphere. The platform is maintained by the organization NatureServe.

## Key Facts
- **Entity Type:** Online database, biological database, and website.
- **Operator:** Created, published, and maintained by NatureServe.
- **Inception:** 1990.
- **Geographic Scope:** 
    - Plants and animals: United States and Canada.
    - Vegetation communities and ecological systems: Western Hemisphere.
- **Data Volume:** Provides information on more than 95,000 species (plants and animals) and more than 10,000 ecological systems.
- **Website URL:** https://explorer.natureserve.org/
- **Country of Origin:** United States.
- **Language:** English.

## FAQs
### Q: What specific data does NatureServe Explorer provide?
A: NatureServe Explorer provides information on more than 95,000 plants and animals specific to the United States and Canada. Additionally, it covers more than 10,000 vegetation communities and ecological systems found throughout the Western Hemisphere.

### Q: Who is responsible for maintaining NatureServe Explorer?
A: The database is maintained by NatureServe, which is also listed as the creator and publisher of the website. The organization is based in the United States.

### Q: When was NatureServe Explorer established?
A: The online database was established in 1990.

## Why It Matters
NatureServe Explorer serves as a fundamental resource for conservation science, centralizing authoritative data on tens of thousands of biological entities and ecological systems. By aggregating information on over 95,000 species and 10,000 vegetation communities, it solves a critical need for accessible, standardized biodiversity data across the Western Hemisphere.

The platform is particularly significant for its longevity and scope; established in 1990, it predates many modern web-based biological repositories. Its specific focus on the taxonomy and distribution of flora and fauna in the United States and Canada, combined with broader ecological system data, makes it an essential tool for researchers, land managers, and conservationists. The database allows for the assessment of conservation status and the mapping of ecological assets, facilitating informed decision-making regarding environmental protection and land use.

## Notable For
- **Extensive Species Coverage:** Housing data on over 95,000 distinct plants and animals.
- **Dual Geographic Scope:** Distinguishing itself by covering species in the U.S. and Canada while extending ecological system data to the entire Western Hemisphere.
- **Longevity:** Operating as an online database since 1990.
- **Authoritative Source:** Serving as the primary digital portal for the organization NatureServe.

## Body
### Platform Identity
NatureServe Explorer is an online database accessible via the URL `https://explorer.natureserve.org/`. Classified as both a website and a biological database, it was created and published by the organization NatureServe. The platform operates primarily in English and is rooted in the United States. It was originally launched in 1990.

### Data Specifications
The database is structured to provide detailed biological and ecological information. Its holdings are categorized into two primary areas:
- **Flora and Fauna:** The site contains information on more than 95,000 distinct plants and animals. This specific dataset is geographically focused on the United States and Canada.
- **Ecological Systems:** The database includes records for more than 10,000 vegetation communities and ecological systems. This data set covers the broader region of the Western Hemisphere.

### Technical and Administrative Details
NatureServe serves as the creator, publisher, and maintainer of the record. The database has been assigned the Wikidata property P10243. Historically, it held the OCLC Work ID 1810352111, which is now considered obsolete. The project has been recognized in academic and Wikidata circles, appearing on the focus list for the WikiProject PCC Wikidata Pilot/University of Washington.