(a) The department may, when deemed necessary to protect wild plant species afforded consideration under this act, acquire natural areas of land or aquatic habitat, or designate such areas on land previously acquired for the establishment of public wild plant sanctuaries.
(b) The department may, when deemed necessary to protect a species afforded protection under this act, acquire natural areas of land or aquatic habitat.
(c) The secretary shall utilize all existing authority vested in the department to carry out the purposes of this section.
(d) The department may allow, under such terms and conditions as may be prescribed by regulation, individuals or groups to assist in the management of designated areas for the purpose of promoting wild plants.
(e) Such areas established under this section shall be utilized whenever feasible, for scientific or educational purposes.
Citation: 32 P.S. § 5310.
(a) General rule.--The State water plan and regional plan shall include:...
(10) An assessment of the water resources required to serve areas with important or unique natural, scenic, environmental or recreational values of national, regional, local or Statewide significance, including national and State parks; designated wild, scenic and recreational rivers; national and State wildlife refuges; and the habitats of Federal and State endangered or threatened species...
Citation: 27 Pa.C.S.A. § 3112.
(a) General rule.--Each agency shall promulgate rules and regulations that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this act consistent with the criteria set forth in this act...
(c) Department of Community Affairs.--...
(2) The Department of Community Affairs shall provide grants of bond revenues and realty transfer tax revenues to land trusts to pay up to 50% of eligible project costs for natural areas and open space planning and acquisition. Any land acquired under this paragraph shall be open to those public uses that are consistent with the purposes for which the land was acquired. Temporary limitation of public access for the purpose of protecting or restoring the natural resources of an area shall not be considered a violation of this paragraph. The Department of Community Affairs, in consultation with the Department of Environmental Resources, shall adopt project selection criteria that give priority to acquisitions of critical habitat for rare, threatened or endangered plant or animal species or communities which are at risk of destruction or substantial degradation....
Citation: 32 P.S. § 2018.
(a) The secretary shall, after due notice and public comment, adopt appropriate regulations providing for:...
(3) Regulations to prohibit the application of restricted use pesticides within one hundred feet of certain publicly owned or designated lands unless a waiver is granted. The secretary may grant a waiver if an applicant demonstrates that:...
(iii) The application of the pesticide will not result in the destruction or loss of any rare or endangered flora or fauna or significant natural community existing in the protected area.
(b) The protected publicly owned or designated area under this section shall include:
(1) Designated natural areas on State forest lands.
(2) Areas designated on Pennsylvania's Natural Diversity Inventory containing rare or endangered species or significant natural communities.
Citation: 3 P.S. § 111.45a.