The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program is a part of the Office of Natural Resource Planning and Conservation within the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The program
inventories, catalogues, and supports conservation of the rarest
and the most outstanding elements of the natural diversity of our
state. These elements of natural diversity include those plants
and animals which are so rare or the natural communities which are
so significant that they merit special consideration as land-use
decisions are made.
The Natural Heritage Program follows methodology
developed by The
Nature Conservancy and shared by the Natural Heritage Network
and NatureServe.
By consolidating information about hundreds of rare species and
natural communities, the program is able to ensure that the public
is able to get the information that is needed, to weigh the ecological
significance of various sites, and to evaluate the likelihood
and nature of ecological impacts. This information supports informed
evaluations of the trade-offs associated with biological diversity
and development projects before plans have been finalized. Finally,
this information facilitates the establishment of priorities for
the protection of North Carolina's most significant natural areas.
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