About DLiA

We are a non-profit organization based in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Our goal is to learn all we can about the estimated 60,000+ kinds of organisms living in the Smokies and to share that information with the public.

Mission: Connecting communities and scientists in discovering, understanding, and conserving the natural world.

Vision statement: Biodiversity being conserved through an engaged community.

Our values: At Discover Life in America, we believe in the vital role of human diversity in our mission to protect biodiversity. In both the natural world and the human realm, diversity brings strength, resilience, and sustainability. We value diverse perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds within our team and community to understand and conserve Earth’s intricate web of life. We are committed to learning and growing as an organization, striving toward inclusivity, embracing uniqueness, and uniting diverse minds and cultures for stronger conservation and a thriving planet.

Our flagship project is the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI).  A joint effort with Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the ATBI is a concentrated effort to identify and catalog every single species living in the Park.  It is the first effort of its kind and has become a model for such biodiversity censuses.

We also work with our partners to manage community science projects provide biodiversity education programming in the region. Check out our upcoming events to see what fun activities are coming up next and find out how you can get involved and join the discovery.

Questions? Please consult our FAQ page.

As a 501(c)(3) non-profit, your tax-deductible gifts allow us to keep operating.  If you can, please support us in our quest to understand and conserve life in the Great Smoky Mountains.

On behalf of the staff and board of directors for Discover Life in America, thank you for your interest and support!