Conservation Resources
This page is a hub for resources dedicated to the conservationist. Whether you are volunteering, looking to get involved, a student, or a professional in the field, there are a range of tools, guides, and materials here for your free use and distribution.
It would be excellent if you decide to credit this back to the website so others can find it, but it’s not necessary.
These resources are being provided in an effort to de-silo many conservation resources – in the spirit of collaborative success.
In other words: nothing here will cost you money to access.
Image: D.K. Berard – Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) in Barnstable, MA, 2025
Under Construction
This page was first released as a part of a large site revamp in early October of 2025. It will be slow to grow at first while the rest of the site gets its due attention as well. Check back periodically or signup for emails.
Conservation Tools
Field Guides: Species of Greatest Conservation Need
A collection of every U.S. state’s Species of Greatest Conservation Concern (SGCN) fact sheets, which contain information about endangered, rare, and threatened species. When unavailable, the next best similar resource is provided. Information often includes identification characteristics, habitat, threats, and research needs.
Drought Monitoring: Live Maps
Drought monitoring maps across the globe updated periodically.
QGIS: Free, Open Source Geospatial Mapping
QGIS is a free, open source alternative to the geospatial mapping software ArcGIS Pro. It is compatible with a range of operating systems.
PhyloPic: Free Silhouettes of Life Forms
PhyloPic provides free access to scientifically accurate silhouettes (icons/graphics) of various lifeforms.
BirdCast: Migration Forecasts
This is a region-specific tool for the contiguous United States, which excludes Hawai'i and Alaska.There are more resources on HerbSpeakAbout BirdCast: Real-Time Migration Forecasts BirdCast is a project of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology that began in 1999 that is...
How-To Guides
No-nonsense guides for conservation skills. From the very basic and onward, these guides serve as a helpful starting point. While there will always be exceptions in the field for specific disciplines and circumstances, these can help get you started and provide explanations. This is particularly geared towards shrinking the knowledge gap between working generations.
How to Use iNaturalist
We hear the stories about how naturalists used to spend their time discovering new species by foraging in dense jungles and sailing the seas looking under crude microscopes like they did in the time of Charles Darwin. Technology evolves, and today, there are a lot...
How to Use GoBotany
Learn how to use GoBotany's simple/full and dichotomous key using two plant examples.
Blueprints and Templates
Easy templates for free use and distribution. Sometimes, it’s better to start with a template than to work on something from scratch. Each template comes with an explanation, and can be customized for your specific discipline, database, or organizational needs. Different file formats are available for common programs, including print versions for field work.
Herbarium Label Template
You can either use this template wholesale, or reference it to make your own template.
Build It: Cold Stratification Box
Stratification helps certain plants germinate. Build your own box to keep the seeds safe outdoors with these plans.
Professional Development
Cross-pollinate some skills advance your career. Maybe you didn’t get into conservation for the grant writing or salary negotiations, but these important skills will advance your ability to live a sustainable lifestyle and avoid burnout.
Environmental Educator’s Guidelines for Excellence
These guidelines by the North American Association for Environmental Education work to set a standard for quality environmental education and literacy.