Natural Heritage Program

DIVISION: Parks and Forestry
GENERAL PHONE NUMBER: (609) 984-1339
FAX NUMBER: (609) 984-1427
WEB SITE

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

Through its Natural Heritage Database, the Natural Heritage Program identifies critically important areas to conserve the state's biological diversity, with particular emphasis on rare plant species and ecological communities. By consulting the database early in the planning stages, planners and developers can alleviate possible conflicts by determining whether the intended location for a given project includes known rare species occurrences.

Municipalities and counties also can use the database information for inclusion in their natural resource inventories and open space plans. If information is needed about whether or not endangered or threatened species, including animal species, have been documented from a particular area, a Natural Heritage Database search can be requested by contacting the Natural Heritage Program or downloading a data request form from the above-referenced web site.

The Natural Heritage Program has also identified several hundred Natural Heritage Priority Sites, representing some of the most critically important areas for the state's biological diversity, with a particular emphasis on rare plant species and ecological communities. This information may be downloaded from the department’s web site as a GIS coverage at: www.nj.gov/dep/gis/stateshp.html or it may be viewed using the department’s interactive mapping application: www.nj.gov/dep/gis/newmapping.htm.

MONETARY ASSISTANCE PROVIDED:

None

PERMITTING RESPONSIBILITIES

None, but numerous permitting agencies require the submission of the results of searches of the Natural Heritage Database as part of the permit application process.

PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE:

List of Endangered Plant Species and Plant Species of Concern – June 2005

An Overview of Nonindigenous Plant Species in New Jersey. 2004. New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Natural Lands Management, Natural Heritage Program, Trenton, NJ. 107 pages.