Biodiversity is the totality of genes, species and ecosystems in a region. Because of its climate and topography, North Carolina has high natural diversity. From the Appalachians to the Atlantic, North Carolina is home to a wealth of plants, animals and unique natural areas, some of which can be found nowhere else on Earth.
All life is interconnected and the loss of a single species can reverberate throughout an ecosystem. Humans depend on biodiversity for food, medicine and the equilibrium of natural systems. Photo courtesy of Bruce Peters

Check This Out!

NC Natural Heritage Program's Online Database Search
http://ils.unc.edu/parkproject/nhp/info.htm
Click on the "Online Database Search" link to find all of the rare, threatened and endangered species in your county!

North Carolina State Parks Natural Resource Identification Database
http://207.4.179.38/Checklist/find.php
Click on the photo gallery at the bottom of the page to search for photos and fun facts of your favorite plants and animals! These photos can be used for educational purposes as long as North Carolina State Parks is given credit.

Carolina Nature
http://www.carolinanature.com/
Will Cook has created this fantastic resource that provides photographs of and information about the wild things of our state!

Study of Northern Virginia Ecology
http://www.fcps.k12.va.us/stratfordlandinges/ecology/home.htm
This AMAZING Web site from Mark Moran of Fairfax County Schools in Virginia not only has great information about various species, but links each species to others that it depends on and that depend on it!

NC OneMap
http://www.nconemap.com/
Just click on the NC OneMap logo to launch the program. Once launched, on the left side under the "Query" subheading, click on the mailbox icon. This allows you to type in your address. Enter your address and click the "Find Address" button. A box will come up with X and Y coordinates. Click where it says "GoTo" to zoom in to your address on the map. On the right side of the page are all of the layers you can turn on and off. NC OneMap can show you everything from river basins to elevation, landcover to weather. It's a FANTASTIC resource, and a great place to start learning about your ecological address!

For More Resources

North Carolina Natural Heritage Program
The North Carolina Natural Heritage Program is a part of the Office of Conservation and Community Affairs within the NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources. The program inventories, catalogues, and supports conservation of the rarest and the most outstanding elements of the natural diversity of our state. These elements of natural diversity include those plants and animals which are so rare or the natural communities which are so significant that they merit special consideration as land-use decisions are made.

The Natural Heritage Program follows methodology developed by The Nature Conservancy and shared by the Natural Heritage Network and NatureServe. By consolidating information about hundreds of rare species and natural communities, the program is able to ensure that the public is able to get the information that is needed, to weigh the ecological significance of various sites, and to evaluate the likelihood and nature of ecological impacts. This information supports informed evaluations of the trade-offs associated with biological diversity and development projects before plans have been finalized. Finally, this information facilitates the establishment of priorities for the protection of North Carolina's most significant natural areas.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's mission is, working with others, to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people.

The NC Wildlife Resources Commission
Since its inception in 1947, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) has been dedicated to the wise-use, conservation, and management of the state's fish and wildlife resources. Our policies and programs are based on scientifically sound resource management, assessment and monitoring, applied research, and public input.

The WRC consists of wildlife and fisheries biologists, wildlife enforcement officers, educators, engineers and administrative staff in nine districts across the state. Whether you enjoy hunting, fishing, boating or are just interested in Tarheel wildlife, the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission is here to enrich your outdoor experiences.