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The Oregon Natural Heritage Program was created by The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in 1974, the first program in the west and one of the first few in the country. Since that time, it has operated as a cooperative effort between TNC, the State of Oregon, and many federal agencies in the state. In 1981, the program changed its name to the Oregon Natural Heritage Database, but changed it back in 1987, with the signing of an agreement between the Division of State Lands (DSL), the other Oregon natural resource agencies and TNC.
The 1973 Oregon Natural Area Preserves Act started the process of creating a Natural Areas Program in Oregon. The original Natural Areas Program had been directed and moved entirely by volunteers. Key to the efforts of creating a statewide program and a Natural Heritage Act were the Natural Area Preserves Advisory Council (NAPAC) chairs, Bob Frenkel and Glenn Juday. NAPAC created the first state natural areas, worked to develop statewide inventories, and became involved with establishing natural area goals for the early Oregon Land Conservation and Development Commission. They also were instrumental in the passage of the Oregon Natural Heritage Act. The Oregon Natural Heritage Act was passed by the Oregon Legislature in 1979 and is described in more detail on the Oregon Natural Heritage Act page. In spite of the passage of this law, TNC continued to manage the program until 1987
In 2002, as a result of actions of the 2001 legislature, the heritage program staff were transfered to Oregon State University, and became the Oregon Natural Heritage Information Center (ORNHIC). At OSU, ORNHIC is now part of the Institute for Natural Resources (INR). ORNHIC will provide staff time to assist DSL in the operation of the Natural Heritage Program, based on an interagency agreement.
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