Additional Scientific Input Sought on Revised Species Status Assessments to Support Revision of State Wildlife Action Plan
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced it is seeking public input on the draft list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need and associated species status assessments for use in updating New York’s State Wildlife Action Plan for 2025-35. Earlier this year, DEC sought review and input on draft species status assessments. Relevant data and other feedback informed the draft Species of Greatest Conservation Need list and were incorporated into the species status assessments that are now available for additional review.
“The New York State Wildlife Action Plan is a critical tool that guides biodiversity conservation and protects declining and threatened wildlife populations in New York State,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “DEC encourages scientific experts, stakeholders, and all New Yorkers to provide their input on the draft list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need as we go through the revision process and identify the threats that must be addressed to protect health of the state's wildlife and habitats.”
The State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) guides management actions for New York’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and is a requirement for New York to participate in the federally funded State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program. SGCN are species native to and extant in New York that are currently experiencing threats likely to result in further decline of their populations in the state if conservation actions are not implemented within the next 10 years.
The SWAP serves as New York State’s guiding document for managing and conserving species and habitats before these species become too rare or costly to restore. To remain eligible for federal funding, Congress requires states and territories to develop a SWAP and update it every 10 years. As part of the SWAP public outreach process, DEC solicits input from partners and stakeholders on SGCN and strategies and actions to address threats to these species.
States may only spend grant funds on SGCN identified in their SWAP. DEC is seeking public input on the draft SGCN list and any additional sources of information on the status and distribution of New York’s SGCN, including new information on threats to these species. All input and data are due by Jan. 14, 2025.
The draft SGCN list and revised species status assessments are available to download from DEC’s website. The public can also nominate a new SGCN, or propose a species be removed from the list. Anyone interested in providing data, updates, or other comments pertaining to the nomination of a new SGCN can download copies of a blank form from the website, populate one form per species, and send to nyswap2025@dec.ny.gov by Jan. 14, 2025.
DEC will provide an opportunity for public review and comments of the full updated SWAP prior to its submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Input and data may be submitted by email to nyswap2025@dec.ny.gov. Please include “Draft SGCN List” in the subject line. Information may also be sent by mail to:
Questions about the SGCN list or status assessment revision process can be sent to the SWAP Coordinator at nyswap2025@dec.ny.gov or call 518-402-8858. For more information on New York’s State Wildlife Action Plan, visit the DEC website at https://dec.ny.gov/nature/
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