Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP)

State biodiversity data program providing species and habitat information critical for watershed conservation planning and project siting.

PNHP maintains Pennsylvania's central database of rare, threatened, and endangered species, as well as significant ecological communities. Watershed groups use PNHP data to identify priority conservation areas, screen projects for environmental review, and support grant applications with ecological justifications. The program is a partnership between Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, PA DCNR, and other state agencies. Services include Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory (PNDI) searches, rare species fact sheets, county natural heritage inventories, and GIS data layers. PNHP staff provide technical review for watershed restoration projects to ensure they avoid harm to sensitive species. County inventories are particularly useful for strategic planning at the local watershed scale.