Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
County Significance Ranks
HIGH = Outstanding Significance. Sites that represent areas of great importance for the biological diversity and ecological integrity of the county, state, and/or region. One or more occurrences of state or national species of special concern, a rare natural community type, a relatively undisturbed natural area, or high quality biological diversity area, is present at the site. These sites merit quick, strong, and complete protection.
MODERATE = Important Significance. Sites that represent vital areas of the county's biological and ecosystem resources and have not been overly disturbed by human activities. Also occasionally included are sites that have less important occurrences of state or nationally imperiled species and/or natural communities. These sites represent notable areas harboring important natural resources that merit complete protection in the near future.
LOW = General Significance. Sites that harbor many of the flora, fauna, and natural community resources in the county, and although somewhat disturbed by human activities, still represent areas that provide habitat, open space, educational lands, and general landscape and/or watershed protection. These sites will be increasingly important to the future quality of the county's overall environment, and merit the attention of planners and conservationists so that their present condition can be maintained.
Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
Stack, Lin, Charles W. Bier, Paul G. Wiegman, Chris J. Boget, and Bernice K. Beck. 1991. Centre County Natural Heritage Inventory. The Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Pittsburgh, PA.