© Pete Saloutos/Panoramic Images (Washington Title Image Large)

Washington Natural Heritage Program
Our Mission
Conserve Washington’s biodiversity.
Our Focus
Collecting, organizing, and sharing information on rare species and ecosystems.
Using scientific expertise to establish conservation priorities and to assist our conservation partners.
Our Work
Species and Ecosystems Inventory
Our staff and cooperators conduct field surveys for rare plants, animals and ecosystems. This inventory is the foundation for most of our other conservation work.
Information Management and Analysis
We have been compiling objective scientific information on priority species and ecosystems for 30 years. We analyze and share this tabular and GIS data with government agencies, consultants, and conservation organizations.
Establishing Priorities
We assign conservation ranks for species and ecosystems based on rarity and threats. This identifies the entities most in need of conservation effort.
Conservation Planning
Our inventory, information, and priorities are used by many organizations to guide conservation action. They are the basis for establishing or expanding Natural Area Preserves and Natural Resources Conservation Areas.
WA NHP Data and Initiatives
-
State of Washington Natural Heritage Plan
The purpose of the State of Washington Natural Heritage Plan is to identify priority species and ecosystems to be considered in the selection of potential natural areas and the criteria and process by which natural areas are selected.