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The Official Website of the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries & Wildlife (MassWildlife)

Natural Heritage and Endangered Species

Natural Heritage GIS Resources

NHESP produces and maintains several GIS datalayers which are accessible to the public. The list below describes each of the datalayers and includes a link for free download.

  • NHESP Priority Habitats of Rare Species - Priority Habitat is the geographical extent of habitat for all state-listed rare species, both plants and animals, and is codified under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act (MESA). Habitat alteration within Priority Habitats may result in a "take" of a state-listed species, and is subject to regulatory review by the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. For more information, please see the Regulatory Review section.
  • NHESP Estimated Habitats of Rare Wildlife - Estimated Habitats are a sub-set of the Priority Habitats that show the geographical extent of the habitat of state-listed rare wetland wildlife and is codified under the Wetlands Protection Act, which does not protect rare plants. Habitat alteration within Estimated Habitats that may result in a "take" of a state-listed species is also subject to regulatory review by the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program. For more information, please see the Regulatory Review section.
  • NHESP Natural Community polygons represent the extent of various natural communities of biodiversity conservation interest in Massachusetts, and are based on observations recorded and maintained within the Natural Heritage Database.
  • NHESP Certified Vernal Pools - This datalayer contains points for all vernal pools that have been certified by the Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program (NHESP) according to the Guidelines for Certification of Vernal Pool Habitat (MA Division of Fisheries & Wildlife, 2001).
  • NHESP Potential Vernal Pools - This datalayer identifies the locations of more than 29,000 potential, unverified, vernal pool habitats throughout Massachusetts.
  • NHESP BioMap Core Habitat - BioMap Core Habitat depicts the most viable habitat for rare species and natural communities in Massachusetts. This data should be viewed with its companion layer, the BioMap Supporting Natural Landscape.
  • NHESP BioMap Supporting Natural Landscape - The Supporting Natural Landscape buffers and connects BioMap Core Habitat polygons and identifies large, naturally vegetated blocks that are relatively free from the impact of roads and other development. This data should be viewed with its companion layer, the BioMap Core Habitat.
  • NHESP Living Waters Core Habitats - Living Waters Core Habitat represents lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams that are important for the protection of freshwater biodiversity in Massachusetts. This data should be viewed with its companion layer, the Living Waters Critical Supporting Watersheds.
  • NHESP Living Waters Critical Supporting Watersheds - The Critical Supporting Watersheds are areas with the most immediate hydrologic contributions to Living Waters Core Habitats, and are therefore areas with the highest potential to sustain or degrade them. This data should be viewed with its companion layer, the Living Waters Core Habitats.