Nature is our lifeline.
From safeguarding the air we breathe and water we drink, to promoting food security and defense against natural disasters, the web of life makes this a livable planet and supports prosperity for us all. The planet’s rich variety of life (or “biodiversity”) and living systems are also intertwined with our national pride, stability, and security, and our cherished pastimes and freedoms.
What is "biodiversity"?
Biodiversity refers to the variety of life on Earth. This includes ecosystems, communities of organisms, single species, and individual organisms and their genetic and molecular material—in short, the entire tree of life. Nothing so much defines our planet as the incredible richness of its living systems.
The extinction crisis looms larger by the day.
Since 1970, we have lost more than two-thirds of all populations of animal life on this planet. More than a quarter of remaining species are in danger of extinction. This is unsustainable and threatens our way of life.
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To ensure nature’s benefits support people and living systems now and for future generations, we must accelerate biodiversity conservation.
Many stakeholders value NASA’s objective information and wish to better understand and utilize it in their decision making.
Since 2021, NASA has engaged with more than 225 stakeholders representing more than 130 groups who steward nature—from private sector businesses like agriculture and timber, to State wildlife agencies and local governments, Tribal governments and indigenous leaders, and community-based organizations. They seek help:
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Understanding biodiversity in the context of the Earth as a system;
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Working across ecosystems, sectors, and disciplines;
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Integrating data and analysis across diverse sources of information;
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Accessing opportunities to shape research and application design; and
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Crafting compelling, evidence-based communication that will hasten greater and more effective conservation action.
These stakeholders see NASA’s remote sensing capabilities—which are a public good, freely available to all—as critical assets for addressing these issues.
What is "remote sensing"?
Remote sensing refers to the range of instruments NASA uses to study the Earth and its systems—from the International Space Station to satellites that orbit the Earth, to those flown on aircraft and drones, to sensors on land and in the sea. Together, these instruments collect the data integrated by NASA’s Earth system scientists—from centers across the country, in Alabama, California, Florida and Maryland—helping complete our understanding of the Earth as a system. Decision makers value the objective information NASA provides, which aids their ability to work efficiently and effectively to promote public benefits.
Stewarding nature is more effective and efficient when fueled by knowledge of the Earth as a system.
​NASA’s bird’s eye view, and the people who make sense of that information, offer resources that can accelerate biodiversity conservation for the benefit of us all.
NASA released the A.60 solicitation.
Inspired by the needs decision makers have expressed, NASA released a solicitation for project proposals in September 2024. See below for more information.
New Solicitation: “A.60 Earth Action: Ecological Conservation”
On Sept. 3, 2024, NASA released a new solicitation—”A.60 Earth Action: Ecological Conservation”—to help accelerate biodiversity conservation, fueled with NASA information about the Earth as a system. The resulting awards will support two priorities surfaced through the engagement referenced above:
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Feasibility Activities to support new collaboration and engagement, and
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Decisional Activities to help scale efforts that show promise.
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To access the solicitation, click here. Note: NASA amended this solicitation on January 23, 2025; new text is in bold, and deleted text is struck through in the latest version. Changes include the removal of the cost share requirement.
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For supporting information on NASA’s NSPIRES site, click here.
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Many types of organizations are eligible to apply — for example, Tribal governments, State and local governments, the private sector, nonprofits, foundations, Federal agencies, academia, and more. ​
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Deadlines: ​
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Notices of intent (optional): Feb. 14, 2025
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Applications submitted: March 14, 2025
To safeguard life on Earth, we must work together to significantly accelerate biodiversity conservation fueled by knowledge of the Earth as a system.
NASA’s information and tools can help.