Lyra Heatherly is both a colonist and an employee of the Bountiful Venture Company. She is tasked with surveying the island in greater depth than was done by the ship-bound surveyors. She was hired as a naturalist, but her responsibilities extend to identifying known ancient ruins, mineral resources, local flora and fauna, and inland locations of fresh water. She is also tasked with estimating the square footage or acreage of forest for future lumber concerns.