Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP)
PNHP’s purpose is to provide current, reliable, objective information to help inform environmental decisions. A partnership of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, PNHP is a member of NatureServe, an international network of natural heritage programs that gather and provide information on the location and status of important ecological resources (plants, vertebrates, invertebrates, natural communities and geologic features). The PNHP website is a portal to:
- Terrestrial & Palustrine Plant Communities of Pennsylvania, 2nd Edition
- County natural heritage inventories for all 67 counties in Pennsylvania
- Species and other natural features of special conservation concern in Pennsylvania, listed by categories: reptiles & amphibians, birds, fishes, mammals, insects & spiders, mussels & snails, plants, lichens, communities and geologic features.
- Pennsylvania Vernal Pool Registry
- Pennsylvania Aquatic Community Classification (ACC)
- Climate Change Vulnerability Index (CCVI) applied to selected Pennsylvania species
- Pennsylvania Conservation Explorer — PNDI Environmental Review Tool
Pennsylvania Flora Project of Morris Arboretum
Checklist and database on the distribution, status, habitat and growth form of all native and naturalized vascular plant species in the state based on collection records from the state’s major herbaria, searchable by county, watershed or physiographic section. A project of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania.
Flora of Pennsylvania
Part of the Flora of the Southeastern United States, by Alan S. Weakley, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium. A PDF of the Pennsylvania flora with keys, current nomenclature, synonymy, and habitat descriptions is free on request.
PA Botany
A hub for botanical communication, training and news in the Commonwealth — a product of individuals from a variety of Pennsylvania botanical institutions and plant conservation organizations. Includes information about the annual Pennsylvania Rare Plant Forum, the biennial Pennsylvania Botany Symposium, and Pennsylvania botany workshops.
Flora of PA: Plant Diversity and Natural Beauty of Pennsylvania
Mission:
Provide online presence for the flora of the state of Pennsylvania
Help people reconnect with their natural environment and enhance their sense of well-being
Inspire an appreciation of the state's natural beauty through offering educational and aesthetic resources of its flora
Pennsylvania Amphibian & Reptile Survey (PARS)
Checklist and database on the distribution and status of all amphibians and reptiles throughout Pennsylvania, searchable by county, taxonomic group or contributor. A joint venture of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission and the Mid-Atlantic Center for Herpetology and Conservation (MACHAC), with support from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and the Pennsylvania Biological Survey’s Amphibians and Reptiles Technical Committee.
Second Atlas of Breeding Birds in Pennsylvania
Edited by Andrew M. Wilson, Daniel W. Brauning and Robert S. Mulvihill, published in 2012 by the Penn State University Press, this 612-page reference documents current distribution and status for the 190 bird species known to breed in the state and details changes that have occurred in the two decades since the previous atlas. Surveys conducted for the atlas at more than 34,000 locations statewide involving more than 1.5 million sightings have enabled estimates of statewide populations for more than half of the breeding species.
A project to collect and disseminate sighting information on Pennsylvania’s 64 species of wild mammals. Volunteers can create a profile, receive email updates, and submit photographs and location information to contribute to the Pennsylvania Mammal Atlas.
Terrestrial Vertebrates of Pennsylvania—a Complete Guide to Species of Conservation Concern
Edited by Michael A. Steele, Margaret C. Brittingham, Timothy J. Maret and Joseph F. Merritt, published in 2010 by Johns Hopkins University Press, this 528-page book describes Pennsylvania’s most vulnerable 133 species of reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals, including photos, range maps, detailed discussions of conservation priorities and research needs, and management recommendations.
Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan
A comprehensive wildlife conservation strategy developed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission and Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, the Pennsylvania Wildlife Action Plan assesses the health of the state’s wildlife and habitats, identifies the problems they face, and outlines the actions needed to conserve them over the long term.
Important Bird Areas Program (IBA)
The Pennsylvania IBA’s purpose is to identify and conserve the highest priority and most threatened bird species and habitats in the state, focusing in particular on protecting habitat for Pennsylvania-responsibility species. It is a partnership of many agencies and organizations led by Audubon Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Biological Survey’s Ornithological Technical Committee.
Important Mammal Areas Project (IMAP)
IMAP promotes the conservation of mammals in Pennsylvania by identifying sites or regions that include habitats critical to their survival and educating the public about mammals and their needs. It is a partnership of the Pennsylvania Game Commission, National Wildlife Federation, Pennsylvania Wildlife Federation, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen's Clubs, Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Pennsylvania Biological Survey’s Mammals Technical Committee.
Gallery of Pennsylvania Fishes
An online version of the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission’s 2000 book Pennsylvania Fishes, written by Linda Steiner and illustrated by Ted Walke. Provides details on identification, habitat, life history, population status and distribution by watershed for the more than 200 native and naturalized fish species living in the Commonwealth’s waters.
Pennsylvania Aquatic Insects
Checklist and searchable database of known Pennsylvania species of Trichoptera (caddisflies) and Plecoptera (stoneflies) with photos and distribution maps of confirmed records by county in Pennsylvania and by state and province in North America. A project of Penn State Erie, the Behrend College.
Atlas of Pennsylvania Butterflies
Checklist and distribution maps of confirmed records by county in Pennsylvania. Maintained by Dr. David M. Wright.