The Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI), or Index of Natural Resources, is a compilation of text, tables, maps, and other visual information about the natural resource characteristics and environmentally significant features of an area. Traditionally called “Natural Resources Inventory,” the title “Environmental Resources Inventory” is now commonly used, reflecting the addition of manmade features to the inventory, such as historic sites, brownfields, and contaminated sites. Municipal environmental commissions should create and update the municipal Environmental Resource Inventory (or NRI, Natural Resource Inventory) every 10 years at a minimum.
ERIs/NRIs bring together information on natural resource characteristics and environmental features. The ERI/NRI enables environmental commissions and open space committees to play a significant role in municipal master planning, land use ordinance development, and site plan review