Discover Life in America: Strategic Plan 2026–2028

This strategic context drives DLiA’s core principles:

Science: DLiA’s decisions are grounded in science, and our focus is centered on our foundational biodiversity research. DLiA’s science differentiator? Over the decades, DLiA has built an extraordinary approach to identifying and cataloging species.

Community: DLiA shares our work and data with communities of scientists and the broader public, inspiring wonder and awe. DLiA’s community differentiator? Over the decades, DLiA has fostered mutually beneficial connections with other nonprofit organizations, scientists, universities, and the general public through taxonomic work and events.

Insights: DLiA focuses on transforming our new and historical biodiversity data into actionable insights that support conservation and ecosystem management. DLiA’s insight differentiator? With decades of curated species data, DLiA provides the foundation for confident, science-based decisions in conservation, climate resilience, and resource management.

Identified through research and conversations with staff, Board of Directors, partners, and experts, the following four initiatives ensure both DLiA’s contributions and relevance to the richness of life in the Smokies and on Earth: 

Initiative #1: Advancing the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory, in which DLiA commits to extending work throughout Southern Appalachia, while continuing the taxonomic research within Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Initiative #2: Studying species and ecosystem shifts over time, in which DLiA commits to integrating, analyzing, and sharing the taxonomic data gathered across the decades, and including temporal elements in future studies.

Initiative #3: Funding the future, in which DLiA commits to the simultaneous expansion of the annual fund and the establishment of an endowment.

Initiative #4: Accelerating outcomes, in which DLiA commits to transforming operations and partnerships while also fusing education, outreach, and communications into scientific and taxonomic work.