The broadest goals of the modern conservation movement cannot be achieved without accurate and detailed information. Conservation science was part of the earliest foundations of Western Pennsylvania Conservancy through the guidance of scientists like M. Graham Netting, Otto Jennings, Frank Preston and others. Out of necessity, WPC has expanded its science role to meet the challenges of a rapidly developing world. WPC's Natural Heritage Program undertakes many studies and develops strategic partnerships to accomplish this important work.
Natural Heritage Program science initiatives include a variety of studies, including County Natural Heritage Inventories, assessments of flora and fauna in state and national parks, at Allegheny National Forest, studies of plants and animals in natural lakes and streams, and more. Projects also include the description of landscapes and habitats, and investigations into the ecology of rare species.
The work of the Natural Heritage Program is not an end in itself. The resulting biodiversity information is gathered, managed, and most importantly, provided for conservation uses. The Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory project includes a database that not only stores information, but is also consulted daily as part of decision making within government agencies. WPC and other conservation groups use the same information to guide their conservation planning so that protection efforts are efficient and effective. Additionally, the expertise of the NHP staff is available daily within the organization as another demonstration that natural science is an integral part of WPC's larger conservation strategy.
Below is a sample of some of our important projects:
- Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program (PNHP)
- Formerly named PNDI (Pennsylvania Natural Diversity Inventory), this program records scientific data about occurrences of the Commonwealth's biological resources. This information is used as part of planning and permitting processes.
- Glacial Lakes Flora Project
- An ongoing study of the plant life inhabiting the eight natural, glacial lakes in Northwestern Pennsylvania. This intensive project is just one way the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy makes use of volunteers.
- Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake Study
- This native Pennsylvanian snake is a candidate species for federal classification. WPC is doing some of the most thorough research to date on this relatively timid reptile.
- Aquatic Classification Project
- WPC is working with The Nature Conservancy to develop a classification of all of the fish, insect, and mussel communities in Pennsylvania's streams and rivers. This classification will provide us with a more holistic understanding of aquatic life in the state.
- County Natural Heritage Inventories
- WPC is involved in a statewide effort to conduct inventories of all of the species of special concern in each county of the Commonwealth.
- Explore the Allegheny Pools Mussel Project
