Environment DEC
From the August 2005 issue
DEC Announces New Online Plant Atlas
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan announced that the New York Natural Heritage Program, in collaboration with the New York Flora Association and the New York State Museum, has finalized the New York Flora Atlas, a web-based atlas that details the distribution of the more than 4,000 plant species that grow in the state.
"From researchers at our many academic institutions, to weekend amateurs who explore our state's rich diversity, New York has a proud tradition of botanical research and appreciation," Commissioner Sheehan said. "All plants contribute to New York's natural heritage, and the information that we can gather from the Flora Atlas will help us learn about the plants that live in our neighborhood and develop a deeper respect and understanding for their importance in the ecosystem."
Contents of Atlas
Sunflower
The Flora Atlas is the most sophisticated and detailed online flora atlas available in New York State. Among other things, it maps the distribution of all plant types across the state and provides information about how rare or common they are, the habitats they prefer and whether they are native, non native or invasive. In addition, the atlas can generate county-specific lists of rare species or those that grow only in wetlands, thereby helping to target conservation efforts.
The atlas is based on dried plant specimens on file at museums across the state, particularly those at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and the New York State Museum. Some of these specimens are more than 100 years old, while others were added as recently as last year because new types of plants are found in the state every year.
New York Natural Heritage Program
The New York Natural Heritage Program is a partnership between DEC and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) that enables and enhances conservation of rare animals and plants and significant ecosystems. The program accomplishes this mission by combining thorough field inventories, scientific analyses, expert interpretation and the most comprehensive database of New York's distinctive biodiversity, delivering the highest-quality information for natural resource planning, protection, and management.
Funding for this project came from the Environmental Protection Fund through the New York State Biodiversity Research Institute and from members of the New York Flora Association.
