National Ecological Observatory Network

The National Science Foundation's National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) is a continental-scale ecological observation facility, fully funded by NSF and operated by Battelle. NEON collects and provides open data from 81 field sites across the United States that characterize and quantify how our nation's ecosystems are changing. Each year, NEON collects and archives over 100,000 specimens and samples that complement the field observations and automated measurements collected at field sites. These samples represent a rich resource unique among natural history collections due to NEON’s utility for continental- and decadal-scale ecology. NEON’s archival samples are available upon request to support research studies and analyses. The comprehensive data, spatial extent and remote sensing technology provided by the NEON project will contribute to a better understanding and more accurate forecasting of how human activities impact ecology and how our society can more effectively address critical ecological questions and issues.