About

The Institute for Applied Ecology is a 501(c)(3) organization located in Corvallis, Oregon and Santa Fe, New Mexico. We’re committed to the conservation of native species and habitats.

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Institute for Applied Ecology is to conserve native species and habitats through restoration, research and education. Our vision is a world where all people and wildlands are healthy and interact positively, biological diversity flourishes, and environmental challenges are met with a social commitment to solving problems with scientific principles.

What We Do

• We provide a service to public and private agencies and individuals by developing and communicating information on ecosystems, species, and effective management strategies.
• Restoration of habitats is a primary focus, and we conduct this work through partnerships with a diverse group of agencies, organizations and the private sector.
• We link our community with habitats through education and outreach.

IAE was founded in 1999 in Corvallis, Oregon, and our Southwest office was established in May 2015 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Since then, it has grown from a full time staff of one with three seasonal botanists to a diverse and active staff with expertise in habitat management, research and experimental design, restoration, education, and planning.  Our internship program, in partnership with the Native Plant Societies of Oregon and New Mexico, has expanded to include over five participants a year, with a total alumni in excess of thirty. We have been awarded both the Oregon Recreation and Parks Association Natural Resource Section 2007 Environmental Organization Award to the Institute (for the Applied Ecology RARE partnership) and the 2004 West Eugene Wetlands Award.

IAE is proud to share that we’ve earned our 2024 Gold Seal of Transparency from Candid, a leading nonprofit research and data center formed in 2019 when GuideStar and the Foundation Center merged.

To earn the Gold Seal, IAE provided Candid with information about our vision, leadership, and financial health as an organization. Less than five percent of the 1.8 million nonprofits registered with Candid are recognized with this distinction.

Only 9% of nonprofit organizations hold a seal at all and we are proud to be among them. The Seal represents IAE’s commitment to transparency and being a good steward of the funds that our donors invest in our mission. Visit IAE’s nonprofit profile on Candid to learn more about our conservation work and the impact it is making across the West.