Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program

Richard Baker, Acting Supervisor
richard.baker@state.mn.us
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155-4025
tel. (651) 259-5073
fax (651) 296-1811

The Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program collects, manages, and interprets information about nongame animals, native plants and plant communities to promote the wise stewardship of these resources. Natural Heritage Programs or their equivalents now exist in all 50 states as well as in a number of Canadian provinces and Latin American countries. All programs use similar methodologies to collect and manage information, allowing pooling of data for conservation planning across geopolitical boundaries.

To accomplish its goals, the Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program

• coordinates research on nongame animals and rare native plants.
• works closely with the Minnesota County Biological Survey to identify and locate our rare natural resources.
• develops and maintains lists of Minnesota's rare natural features:
  • Minnesota's List of Endangered, Threatened, and Special Concern Species
  (PDF/116KB).
  • Native Plant Communities of Minnesota.
    • Species lists for terrestrial and palustrine native plant communities in East-Central Minnesota (Great River Greening )
  • important Animal Aggregation Sites (PDF/5KB), such as colonial waterbird nesting colonies.
• maintains the Natural Heritage Information System - which tracks important information about the biology and distribution of rare features - and provides that information for activities such as community planning, environmental review, and research.
• provides ecological expertise through fact sheets, publications, and other ecological assistance to help government agencies, scientists, land managers, developers, educators, and citizens protect our rare natural resources.
• administers endangered and threatened species permitting.
• Participates in an international network of Natural Heritage Programs coordinated by Nature Serve , a non-profit organization.