Involving over 140 authors and reviewers, these plans represent the first time that a non-governmental organization has undertaken such extensive documentation of a region’s flora. The New England Plant Conservation Program chooses priority species and reviews each plan.

The plans help direct conservation of the region’s most endangered plant species. Each plan includes a description of the distribution and range of the subject plant; the species’ biology; current and historical status of each New England occurrence; goals for the plant’s protection; and recommended conservation actions. The plans provide information that public and private landowners can use to help successfully manage rare species on their properties.

The utility and importance of these plans is already apparent. Both state and federal agencies use the findings and recommendations as the basis for management and funding allocation, and NEWFS’ large group of volunteers and interns are performing management tasks recommended by the plans at a variety of sites throughout New England.

For some of these species, NEWFS goes a step further. Through a National Science Foundation grant, NEWFS has funded six students to conduct scientific field research on the biology of these rare plants, producing critical information needed to understand their habitat and management needs.

View the Plans

View General Research Topics

View Plant-specific Research Questions