Apply for Wild Plant Sanctuary Status

To enroll in the Wild Plant Sanctuary Program, private properties must meet one or more of these criteria:

• Support plants that are rare, threatened, or endangered in Pennsylvania. We prioritize plants that occur naturally in rare quantities. We will not consider state-listed species that are not of local origin from nursery stock. Please do not collect wild-listed plant species.

• Contain host plants for rare moths, butterflies, or other arthropods. Moths and butterflies need the right food, nectar, and host plants as adults and larvae. There should be proof of a breeding population of rare invertebrates. Or, the site should have a high potential for their use.

• Includes outstanding or unique natural features or plant communities. Pennsylvania’s natural heritage also includes geologic features and plant communities. Springs, waterfalls, rock outcroppings, and fossil beds show Pennsylvania's diverse history. They may host rare plant communities.

• Maintained or managed using ecologically sound practices. This includes techniques like invasive species control, native plant restoration, and deer exclusion. Sites with high educational potential are also of value. If you are restoring a site, be sure your nursery uses local native species that are not poached from the wild. DCNR will also consider the presence of rare animal species.

Areas not considered Wild Plant Sanctuaries include:

• Formal gardens, landscaping, or restorations using state-listed species of cultivated stock.

• Sites overrun by invasive plant species dominating the landscape.

• Properties threatened by future development or poor management practices.

First, determine if your property qualifies for consideration. You may wish to have your property evaluated by a professional ecologist or botanist.

Then fill out the application, being as complete as possible. Send in photos or other information you may have about your property.

Send your application by email or by mail to:

DCNR, Bureau of Forestry P.O. Box 8552 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8552

The Wild Plant Sanctuary Committee will review your application. They will decide if your property can join the program.

They may contact you to schedule a site visit.

You will receive a letter from DCNR with the committee’s decision. If your property is ineligible, the letter will explain why. It will also suggest ways to improve it for future consideration.

Upon acceptance into the Wild Plant Sanctuary Program, DCNR will coordinate with you to create a plaque and sign, free of charge, by Penn Nursery Sign Shop.

If you hold a designation ceremony for your sanctuary, a committee member will present the plaque and sign it.