Welcome to the
North Carolina Natural Heritage Data Explorer
Interactive maps of Natural Heritage resources for North Carolina.
Natural Heritage Data Explorer (NHDE) provides interactive access to maps and data representing Natural Heritage resources and other conservation values in North Carolina. Account holders can generate site-specific project review reports. Subscription accounts allow users to view element occurrences and generate unlimited project review reports. The project review output is a report of the rare species, natural areas, and managed areas found in the specified project footprint and within a one-mile buffer.
Services
Data Explorer Project Review annual subscription: $600.00 per individual user.
Allows user to generate an unlimited number of natural heritage resource reports. These reports include information on rare species, natural communities, natural areas, and nature preserves for user-defined project areas. Users can view and query element occurrence, natural area, managed area, conservation planning, and reference layers in the online map viewer, perform species/natural community searches and receive summarized results by county.
This is the best option for users who need more than 6 project review reports per year.
Data Explorer Project Review without an annual subscription: $100.00 per project review.
Allows user to generate one (1) natural heritage resource report for a user-defined project area. Users can view and query natural area, managed area, conservation planning, and reference layers in the online map viewer, perform species/natural community searches and receive summarized results by county or quad. A separate fee will be charged for each project review submitted.
This option may be best for users familiar with the functionality of the Natural Heritage Data Explorer who wish to receive an immediate response (typically within 5 minutes of submitting a query) and who do not need more than 6 project review reports per year.
Customized environmental review request: $65.00 per hour.
Requestor will receive a natural heritage resource report similar to reports provided through the Natural Heritage Data Explorer but prepared by NHP staff. These reports include information on rare species, natural communities, natural areas, and nature preserves for project areas defined by requestor. When submitting the environmental review request, requestor will submit a cover letter describing the proposed activity and a map of the project area.
This option may be best for individuals and organizations who do not wish to submit a project through the Natural Heritage Data Explorer and do not need an immediate response (up to 2 week response time).
GIS shapefiles of Natural Heritage Element Occurrence records: $100.00 per species, county, or 8-digit hydrologic unit.
Biological field survey: $65.00 per hour.
Customers may request a field survey of a project location. Natural Heritage field biologists will conduct a field survey and provide a report of their findings. The survey report will include a summary of observations and maps of rare species, natural communities, natural areas, and nature preserves within the project area. Upon submitting a request for a biological field survey, the customer will be contacted by Natural Heritage Program staff to develop a work order, including scope of work and timeline.
Training
Training on Natural Heritage data fundamentals, data interpretation, and Data Explorer functionality is provided at no cost. Please see the NHP Events page for upcoming training opportunities.Training is strongly recommended for all users of NCNHP data.
Fees
See the Frequently Asked Questions page for more information. The new rules and fee schedule can be found here.
As a reminder - federal, state, local government, and nonprofit organizations are exempt from fees.
We recommend using up-to-date versions of the following web browsers: Chrome, Firefox, or Internet Explorer. Note: The Data Explorer does not work with Internet Explorer 10 or earlier. If you're having problems with your web browser you're using, try clearing your browser's cache.