fisher16
09-26-2006, 08:44 PM
NEW NATURAL HERITAGE ATLAS AVAILABLE! <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
On October 1<SUP>st</SUP>, the Natural He<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge & Endangered Species Program (<st1:PersonName>NHESP</st1:PersonName>) of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will be releasing the newest Massachusetts Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas, which displays regulatory habitats of endangered species. The Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas shows boundaries of ‘Priority Habitats,’ for use with the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act regulations, and ‘Estimated Habitats,’ for use with the Wetlands Protection Act regulations. Unless certain exemptions apply, proponents of all projects or activities within delineated Priority Habitats are required to file their project plans with MassWildlife’s <st1:PersonName>NHESP</st1:PersonName> for review. This 12<SUP>th</SUP> <st1:PersonName>Ed</st1:PersonName>ition of the Atlas is the product of a multi-year updating and improvement of Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat boundaries across the state to reflect the most recent endangered species data, the latest in scientific understanding of species biology and habitat requirements, and the newest GIS technology and data.
<o:p> </o:p>
To view the revised Priority Habitats and Estimated Habitats, you can:
· Purchase a copy of the 12<SUP>th</SUP> <st1:PersonName>Ed</st1:PersonName>ition of the Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas with 187 pages of full-color, 11” x 17” maps covering the entire state or a copy of the Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas CD Viewer, which provides statewide coverage of Priority Habitats and Estimated Habitats using the MassGIS Data Viewer software. (Order form at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/atlasorderform.pdf (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/atlasorderform.pdf))<o:p></o:p>
· View the large Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat maps that have been sent to the Conservation Commission and Planning Board of each town or city in <st1:State><st1:place>Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:State> with such habitats.
· Use the interactive web viewer available at www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhregmap.htm (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhregmap.htm)
· Download the Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat GIS datalayers from MassGIS for use with GIS software (www.mass.gov/mgis/ (http://www.mass.gov/mgis/)).
<o:p> </o:p>
For more information about the new Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas or about endangered species regulations and project review, contact MassWildlife’s Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge & Endangered Species Program at 508/792-7270 x200 or email natural.heritage@state.ma.us (natural.heritage@state.ma.us). <o:p></o:p>
<o:p> </o:p>
On October 1<SUP>st</SUP>, the Natural He<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge & Endangered Species Program (<st1:PersonName>NHESP</st1:PersonName>) of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife will be releasing the newest Massachusetts Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas, which displays regulatory habitats of endangered species. The Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas shows boundaries of ‘Priority Habitats,’ for use with the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act regulations, and ‘Estimated Habitats,’ for use with the Wetlands Protection Act regulations. Unless certain exemptions apply, proponents of all projects or activities within delineated Priority Habitats are required to file their project plans with MassWildlife’s <st1:PersonName>NHESP</st1:PersonName> for review. This 12<SUP>th</SUP> <st1:PersonName>Ed</st1:PersonName>ition of the Atlas is the product of a multi-year updating and improvement of Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat boundaries across the state to reflect the most recent endangered species data, the latest in scientific understanding of species biology and habitat requirements, and the newest GIS technology and data.
<o:p> </o:p>
To view the revised Priority Habitats and Estimated Habitats, you can:
· Purchase a copy of the 12<SUP>th</SUP> <st1:PersonName>Ed</st1:PersonName>ition of the Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas with 187 pages of full-color, 11” x 17” maps covering the entire state or a copy of the Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas CD Viewer, which provides statewide coverage of Priority Habitats and Estimated Habitats using the MassGIS Data Viewer software. (Order form at http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/atlasorderform.pdf (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/atlasorderform.pdf))<o:p></o:p>
· View the large Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat maps that have been sent to the Conservation Commission and Planning Board of each town or city in <st1:State><st1:place>Massachusetts</st1:place></st1:State> with such habitats.
· Use the interactive web viewer available at www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhregmap.htm (http://www.mass.gov/dfwele/dfw/nhesp/nhregmap.htm)
· Download the Priority Habitat and Estimated Habitat GIS datalayers from MassGIS for use with GIS software (www.mass.gov/mgis/ (http://www.mass.gov/mgis/)).
<o:p> </o:p>
For more information about the new Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge Atlas or about endangered species regulations and project review, contact MassWildlife’s Natural He<st1:PersonName>rita</st1:PersonName>ge & Endangered Species Program at 508/792-7270 x200 or email natural.heritage@state.ma.us (natural.heritage@state.ma.us). <o:p></o:p>