Institute for Natural Resources - Portland

About the Institute

The Institute for Natural Resources - Portland is part of the Institute for Natural Resources (INR) based at Oregon State University in Corvallis. The INR was created by OSU and the Oregon Legislature in 2001 as an independent institute in the Research Office of OSU. At Portland State University, INR - Portland is part of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences .

As a research institute, INR helps decision makers identify and use relevant science in making natural resource policy and management decisions. INR works with local, state, federal, non-profit, and private organizations to produce maps, assessments, scientific reviews, datasets, and analyses for use in conservation planning, prioritization, and management.

INR welcomed two collaborative water-focused programs in 2025 that expand its Water and Workforce Development portfolios. Learn more about the USGS-PSU Partnership and Water@PSU below.

Researchers are dragging a canoe with equipment through a stream

Featured Program: The USGS-PSU Partnership (UPP)

Since 2007, the UPP has fostered collaborative water science research, education and outreach. This partnership has expanded joint research on water supply, water quality, hydrologic hazards, and biological resources while training the next generation of water scientists.

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Our Programs

Snowy plover chicks on the beach with sand dollar.

Oregon Biodiversity Information Center

ORBIC's key function is to maintain, develop and distribute biodiversity information in Oregon. The center works with a variety of agency, NGO, and private partners to provide the most comprehensive information on plants, wildlife, fish, fungi, and vegetation throughout Oregon and maintains a rare and endangered species database.

Mountain with meadows, snow patches, and scattered trees.

Natural Areas Program

The Oregon Natural Areas Program works to protect high quality native ecosystems and rare plant and animal species by guiding the selection of priority areas for the establishment of natural areas.

Imagery of elevation zones of mountains and a river valley.

Landscape Assessment and Mapping Program

The Pacific Northwest Landscape Assessment and Mapping Program (PNW-LAMP) works to model vegetation patterns in Oregon and beyond in relation to natural resource management, wildlife, and ecology.

USGS and PSU researchers at a round table discuss their research.

The USGS-PSU Partnership

The UPP aims to be a model partnership that redefines the way universities and federal agencies collaborate, advance scientific research, and develop the next generation of connected scientists, stewards, and advocates for our hydrologic and geologic resources.

A woman stands in a river measuring the depth of the water

Water@PSU

Water@PSU brings together water-related research, classes, personal stories and professional opportunities for the campus community in one place. From data sources to community partnerships, from internships to water-focused art and audio projects, Water@PSU highlights the best of water-related content at PSU.

INR-Portland maintains a detailed database on rare species distributions, statuses, taxonomy, and more. Requests for rare species data or other inquiries can be made via Data Requests.

Data Requests

Learn about opportunities to work at or volunteer with INR.

Opportunities

Publications from INR-PSU are posted to PDX Scholars Archive. Additional publications from all of INR can be found at INR Publications.

Publications

More Resources

INR-OSU Website

Additional information about the Institute for Natural Resources and the majority of our publications and other products are available on INR's OSU website. Descriptions of services, focus areas, featured projects, and staff profiles can also be found here.

Oregon Explorer

The Oregon Explorer program is an INR and OSU Libraries natural resources digital library providing access to data, mapping and reporting tools, stories and other archived information to help local citizens, planners and policymakers make more informed decisions about Oregon’s natural resources and communities.

Invasive Species and iMapInvasives

INR manages the Oregon iMapInvasives program. iMapInvasives is an online, GIS-based invasive species reporting and querying tool providing information on where invasives are found and to track treatments and outcomes for managers, researchers, and the public.