diff --git a/server/routes.ts b/server/routes.ts
index 0b8c1b1..504996c 100644
--- a/server/routes.ts
+++ b/server/routes.ts
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
       
       try {
         // Check if the API is working by hitting the version endpoint
-        const response = await axios.get("https://apiv4.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/version", {
+        const response = await axios.get("https://apiv4.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/information/api_version", {
           headers: {
             "Authorization": `Bearer ${iucnToken}`
           }
@@ -558,9 +558,16 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
       const nameParts = String(name).split(' ');
       const [genusName, speciesName] = nameParts;
 
-      // Get IUCN token
-      const activeToken = await storage.getActiveToken();
-      if (!activeToken?.iucnToken) {
+      // Try to get IUCN token from environment variable first
+      let iucnToken = process.env.IUCN_API_KEY || null;
+      
+      // If not available in env, try to get from storage
+      if (!iucnToken) {
+        const activeToken = await storage.getActiveToken();
+        iucnToken = activeToken?.iucnToken || null;
+      }
+      
+      if (!iucnToken) {
         return res.status(401).json({
           success: false,
           message: "IUCN API v4 token is not configured. Please set your token in the API Token panel."
@@ -571,7 +578,7 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
         // First, we need to find the species taxon ID using scientific name lookup
         const taxaResponse = await axios.get("https://apiv4.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/taxa/scientific_name", {
           headers: {
-            "Authorization": `Bearer ${activeToken.iucnToken}`
+            "Authorization": `Bearer ${iucnToken}`
           },
           params: {
             genus_name: genusName,
@@ -592,7 +599,7 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
         // Now retrieve the habitats using the taxon ID
         const habitatsResponse = await axios.get(`https://apiv4.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/habitats`, {
           headers: {
-            "Authorization": `Bearer ${activeToken.iucnToken}`
+            "Authorization": `Bearer ${iucnToken}`
           },
           params: {
             taxonid: taxonId
@@ -649,9 +656,16 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
       const nameParts = String(name).split(' ');
       const [genusName, speciesName] = nameParts;
 
-      // Get IUCN token
-      const activeToken = await storage.getActiveToken();
-      if (!activeToken?.iucnToken) {
+      // Try to get IUCN token from environment variable first
+      let iucnToken = process.env.IUCN_API_KEY || null;
+      
+      // If not available in env, try to get from storage
+      if (!iucnToken) {
+        const activeToken = await storage.getActiveToken();
+        iucnToken = activeToken?.iucnToken || null;
+      }
+      
+      if (!iucnToken) {
         return res.status(401).json({
           success: false,
           message: "IUCN API v4 token is not configured. Please set your token in the API Token panel."
@@ -662,7 +676,7 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
         // First, we need to find the species taxon ID using scientific name lookup
         const taxaResponse = await axios.get("https://apiv4.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/taxa/scientific_name", {
           headers: {
-            "Authorization": `Bearer ${activeToken.iucnToken}`
+            "Authorization": `Bearer ${iucnToken}`
           },
           params: {
             genus_name: genusName,
@@ -683,7 +697,7 @@ export async function registerRoutes(app: Express): Promise<Server> {
         // Now retrieve the conservation measures using the taxon ID
         const measuresResponse = await axios.get(`https://apiv4.iucnredlist.org/api/v4/measures`, {
           headers: {
-            "Authorization": `Bearer ${activeToken.iucnToken}`
+            "Authorization": `Bearer ${iucnToken}`
           },
           params: {
             taxonid: taxonId