NHESP Natural Communities

Oct 1, 2010 (Last modified May 13, 2011)
Description:
The NHESP Natural Communities datalayer consists of polygons that represent the extent of various natural communities of biodiversity conservation interest in Massachusetts. These polygons are based on records of natural communities maintained in the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) database. Program scientists classify and delineate natural community polygons by analyzing "on-the-ground" field data and available information about the landscape (particularly topographic maps and aerial photographs). All sites in the NHESP database have been visited by NHESP biologists or by other biologists who have submitted reports on community occurrences that NHESP biologists have reviewed and accepted. Aquatic community types are not included. The polygons are spatially represented at 1:25,000 or 1:24,000. The natural community types are from Swain, P.C. and J. B. Kearsley. 2001, Classification of the Natural Communities of Massachusetts, Version 1.3. Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. The classification is available as pdf files from http://www.nhesp.org or as paper copies purchased from NHESP. The draft classification names and describes 105 natural community types found in Massachusetts.

The datalayer is based on information on natural communities determined by NHESP to be of biodiversity conservation importance on a statewide basis. It is not intended to be part of a comprehensive vegetation map of the state. Additional verified natural community occurrences received during and after the preparation of this datalayer will be included in future iterations of the datalayer.

These polygons are not related to "Priority Habitat" or "Significant Habitat" as defined by the regulations of the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). Natural Communities are not protected under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act, but the rare species that may occur within some of these natural communities are protected by that law.
Data Provided By:
Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program
Content date:
9/1/2006
Citation:
Title: NHESP Natural Communities
Credits: Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program
Publication Date: September, 2006
Contact Organization:
Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program
Contact Person(s):
  • David Szczebak
Use Constraints:
The legend that MUST accompany this datalayer on all maps is: "NHESP Natural Communities, 2006 edition" Please note that NHESP Natural Community polygons were designed for use at a regional or town scale. For accurate portrayal, the data should be displayed at scales of equal to or less than 1:25,000 (e.g., 1:30,000). This datalayer is intended for conservation planning purposes only. It is NOT intended to be used for regulatory purposes. Other NHESP layers - Priority Habitats of Rare Species and Estimated Habitats of Wetland Wildlife - are designed for regulatory use. They are produced in the Natural Heritage Atlas, and are available from MassGIS at http://www.mass.gov/mgis/wethab.htm and http://www.mass.gov/mgis/prihab.htm.
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