For Release: Thursday, July 7, 2005
DEC Announces New Plant Atlas
Website Allows Botanists, Residents to Learn About More Than 4,000 Plant Species
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan today 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."
The Flora Atlas can be found on the Internet at atlas.nyflora.org . It is the most sophisticated and detailed online flora atlas available in New York State. It maps the distribution of all plant types across New York State, gives information on how rare or common they are, the habitats they prefer and details whether they are native, non-native or invasive among other things. The atlas can also generate county-specific lists of rare species, or those that only grow in wetlands to help target conservation efforts.
The NY Natural Heritage Program (www.nynhp.org) is a partnership between DEC and The Nature Conservancy (TNC) that enables and enhances conservation of rare animals, rare plants, and significant ecosystems. The Program accomplishes this mission by combining thorough field inventories, scientific analyses, expert interpretation, and the most comprehensive database on New York's distinctive biodiversity to deliver the highest quality information for natural resource planning, protection, and management.
TNC's New York State Director Henry Tepper said, "Now New Yorker's can explore the State's botanical diversity online, whether they're interested in showy Dragon's-mouth Orchids or subtle Hudson River Water Nymphs."
The New York Flora Atlas is based on dried plant specimens on file at museums across the State, particularly those at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden and 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 New York every year.
Funding for the project came from the Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) through the New York State Biodiversity Research Institute, and from the members of the New York Flora Association.
Governor George E. Pataki was the first Governor in the State's history to fund the EPF to the full extent allowable by law, and has increased funding for this important fund six-fold - from $25 million to $150 million annually. The EPF supports critical environmental projects related to open space conservation, stewardship of State lands and facilities, understanding our natural resources and improved water quality.
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