Albemarle-Pamlico Sounds
North Carolina Natural Heritage Program
Category: Wetlands and
Uplands
Cost: Information not provided.
Description: The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program is a part of
the Division of Parks and Recreation within the Department of Environment and
Natural Resources. The program inventories, catalogues, and facilitates protection
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.
Outcome: The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program is one of the oldest
members of this international network, and with nearly 18,000 records of element
occurences in North Carolina, it maintains one of the most extensive databases.
Information on more than 1400 rare plants, animals, and natural communities
is incorporated into the database.
By consolidating information about hundreds of rare species and natural communities,
the program is able to ensure that legislators, administrators, and especially
the public are able to get the information that they need and request; to weigh
the significance of various sites; and to evaluate the likelihood and nature
of ecological impacts. This information process encourages informed evaluations
of the trade-offs associated with biological diversity and development projects
before plans have been finalized. Finally, this information supports the establishment
of priorities for the protection of North Carolina's most significant natural
areas.
Contact: Sandra Cavalieri, North Carolina Natural Heritage Program Division
of Parks and Recreation, 1615 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1615, Phone:
(919) 715-8697, Fax:(919) 715-3085, sandra.cavalieri@ncmail.net
Citation: http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/nhp/program.htm
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