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MassWildlife's Natural Heritage & Endangered Species Program

Natural Heritage Forms and Guidelines

Quick links to forms and guidelines.
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Regulatory Review Forms

State-listed Species Information Request Form (PDF 171.31 KB)
Forestry Information Request Form (PDF 56.27 KB)
MESA Project Review Checklist (PDF 844.17 KB)
Application Guidelines for MESA Conservation & Management Permit (PDF 162.21 KB)
Commercial Scientific Collection Permit Application (PDF 172.5 KB)
Learn more about Regulatory Review 

Rare Species & Vernal Pool Observation Forms

Vernal Pool & Rare Species (VPRS) Reporting System Observer Information and Certification (PDF 519.8 KB)
NHESP Plant Observation Form (PDF 104.33 KB)
NHESP Animal Observation Form (PDF 98.9 KB)
Guidelines for the Certification of Vernal Pool Habitat (PDF 1.54 MB)
Report rare species & vernal pool observations online 

Natural Communities

Natural Community short form instructions (Form2) (PDF 235.25 KB)
Natural Community Field Forms, complete instructions (PDF 155.94 KB)
Natural Community Field Forms, including summary and plot data forms (PDF 137.46 KB)
Natural Communities 

Collection Permit Applications

Commercial Scientific Collection Permit Application (PDF 172.5 KB)
Scientific Collection Permit (Education/Research) (PDF 95.8 KB)
Rare Plant Collection Permit Application (PDF 172.6 KB)
Guidelines for Collecting Rare Plants (PDF 112.39 KB)

Species Guidelines

Guidelines for Creating Turtle Nesting Habitat (PDF 196.74 KB)
Mowing Guidelines in Rare Turtle Habitat (PDF 228.63 KB)
State-Listed Species Habitat Assessment Guidelines: Wildlife (PDF 185.21 KB)
State-Listed Species Habitat Assessment and Survey Guidelines: Plants (PDF 189.05 KB)
Guidelines for Managing Recreational Use of Beaches to Protect Piping Plovers, Terns, and Their Habitats in Massachusetts (PDF 305.66 KB)
Guidelines for Ethical Field Research on Rare Plant Species (PDF 108.88 KB)
Guidelines for Collecting Rare Plants (PDF 112.39 KB)
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