§ 9.312. Natural areas having statewide significance.
(a) There is an increasing concern at the Federal and State government levels and in the public and private sectors to preserve components of our natural heritage. A multitude of agencies, organizations and groups in this Commonwealth have acquired and secured a variety of land in which natural processes are allowed to predominate, commonly referred to as natural areas.
(b) Generally, there has been a limited effort to distinguish the relative importance that these areas may possess in completing a composite of natural areas having Statewide significance. While working is continuing on the identification or evaluation of such factors as quality, size, uniqueness, or diversity to distinguish those natural areas having Statewide significance, there is no overall direction to assist agencies and organizations to identify and acquire additional areas of Statewide significance, nor does there exist the means of fully protecting these areas for perpetuity.
(c) A meaningful and effective Statewide system of natural areas can only be attained through the cooperation and coordination of ongoing government and nongovernment activities. Therefore, it shall be the Environmental Policy of the Commonwealth to actively promote and utilize public, quasi-public, and private efforts to identify, designate, protect and manage natural areas having Statewide significance.
Cross References This section cited in 25 Pa. Code § 9.311 (relating to natural areas policy statement).
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