Biodiversity Research Institute
Who We Are
Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI), headquartered in Portland, Maine, is a nonprofit 501(c)3 ecological research group whose mission is to assess emerging threats to wildlife and ecosystems through collaborative research. We use scientific findings to advance environmental awareness and inform decision makers.
Where We Work
Our research team works across the globe with dedicated conservation biologists conducting studies and working with countries in nearly every corner of the world.
Mapped locations are color coded by BRI’s four Centers of excellence, with stars indicating current project. Future projects in development are without stars. Blue: Center for Climate Change and Conservation; Purple: Center for Mercury Studies; Orange: Center for Waterbird Studies’ Green: Center for Research on Offshore Wind and the Environment
BRI’s Centers of Research
BRI’s research capabilities have grown in response to pressing ecological issues, from the ability to study the natural history of loons to the development of new technologies that enable researchers to predict risks due to climate change and human development.
Recent News
October 2024
Center for Mercury Studies: BRI’s Ecotoxiclogy Special Issue on mercury, Assessing global environmental mercury exposure in biota and potential impacts on biodiversity, has been higlighted as a reasource from the United Nations Environment Programme’s Global Mercury Partnership. This special issue brought together an esteemed group of nearly 200 international scientists who collaborated on producing 18 peer-reviewed papers. BRI’s Global Biotic Mercury Synthesis (GBMS) database played a crucial role in the development of this issue. The database is a compilation and synthesis of published fish, sea turtle, bird, and marine mammal mercury data collected from all over the world and provides a standardized and comprehensive platform for understanding mercury concentrations in biota.
October 2024
General news: BRI announces the appointment of John Schmerfeld as the new director of science operations. In this position, he will be responsible for the development and oversight of short-term and long-term strategic goals of the Institute’s four research centers and 17 science programs. Read the full press release here.
October 2024
General news: Check out the latest issue of BRI’s e-zine, One Drop of Water! Take a journey through the grasslands of South Dakota, learn about how biodiversity policy works in the United States, and open your eyes to the wonders of nature writing! Read all the articles here.
September 2024
Center for Research on Offshore Wind and the Environment: CROWE director Kate Williams is a co-author on a recently published paper focusing on technology gaps for monitoring wildlife at offshore wind facilities. The paper, Technology Gaps for Monitoring Birds and Marine Mammals at Offshore Wind Facilities is available here.
Connect with us!
BRI has a quarterly e-zine titled One Drop of Water, which features stories about our science, our scientists, and the critical intersection where science informs policy. The October issue is out now!
United Nations and BRI
BRI helps over 40 countries meet requirements for the Minamata Convention on Mercury by assisting with Minamata Initial Assessments and mercury inventories, reducing mercury use in artisanal and small-scale gold mining practices, and evaluating effectiveness through mercury biomonitoring.
BRI is an official member of the UN Global Compact and an accredited observer organization for both the Minamata Convention and the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as an Executing Agency for UNEP.
