Information about the status and distribution of rare or endangered species, natural communities, and other special ecological features in Alabama is collected and stored in a centralized data management system. Map, manual, and computer files keep the information organized and easily accessible. Records are indexed by a number of criteria, including name, location, endangerment status, watershed, and land ownership. All 50 state heritage inventories employ standardized methods and terminology to process information.

It is "element" oriented
The inventory focuses on individual components of Alabama's natural diversity. These include distinct biotic communities, special plant and animal species, and other natural features that are rare or endangered at the state or national level. Critical elements are identified and compared to ensure that conservation efforts focus on the most threatened and highest quality examples.

It is a centralized repository
For the first time in the history of Alabama, biological information previously scattered among state and federal agencies, academic institutions, private conservation groups, individual citizens, and in published and unpublished reports is gathered into a single database. By consolidating existing sources, the Alabama Natural Heritage Program serves as a clearinghouse for ecological information in and for the state.

It is ongoing
The inventory is a cumulative process through which information is continuously updated and refined. Old records are checked in the field, new areas are surveyed, known "element occurrences" are monitored, and changes in land conservation status are recorded. As a result, the assessment of Alabama's ecological resources will be current and increasingly accurate.