Biodiversity Research Institute

The Biodiversity Research Institute, established in 1998, assesses emerging threats to wildlife and ecosystems through collaborative research, and uses scientific findings to advance environmental awareness and inform decision makers.

BRI conducts investigations in the U.S., Canada, Belize, Costa Rica, and Mexico, with their findings published in various scientific outlets.

According to the Portland Press Herald on June 27, 2011:

"In the past year, the BioDiversity Research Institute has tripled its staff, quintupled its revenues and enlarged its network of scientific studies after the federal government hired BRI to help determine the impacts of last year's Deepwater Horizon oil spill on birds in the Gulf of Mexico.

"Now the organization known for its scientific research on environmental threats to birds and other wildlife is turning its sights on the Gulf of Maine with a number of projects aimed at assessing the impact of renewable energy infrastructures such as wind turbines on migratory birds."

BRI's research findings inform discussions on issues ranging from environmental mercury contamination and contaminants in birds to wind power development, loon preservation and management, and more.