On this page:
- Overview of Wildlife Diversity Conservation
- State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP)
- Definitions
- Conservation Plans (Spruce Grouse, Cricket Frog, Grassland Bird strategy)
Overview of Wildlife Diversity Conservation
The goal of wildlife diversity conservation is to prevent wildlife species from becoming extirpated and perpetuate and restore native animal life within New York State, based upon sound scientific practices, and in consideration of social values for the use and benefit of current and future generations.
When air, land, water, plants, and animals support each other in a healthy environmental system, all species benefit.
DEC focuses on the most sensitive elements in the system—the species at risk—some of which are on the brink of extinction. DEC seeks out reasons for species’ declines and takes action to help reverse these declines to promote species persistence.
State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP)
The SWAP is a document that lays out the conservation actions necessary to address the threats to at-risk species. The actions in this document help guide the recovery of listed species and provide a framework for successful conservation that can prevent the need for listing additional species.
Definitions
Endangered: native species in imminent danger of extirpation or extinction in New York or are species listed as endangered by the United States Department of the Interior.
Threatened: native species likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future in New York or are species listed as threatened by the United States Department of the Interior.
Special Concern: native species found by the department to be at risk of becoming threatened in New York. Species of special concern do not qualify as either endangered or threatened but have been determined by the department to require some measure of protection to ensure that the species does not become threatened.
Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN): this non-regulatory term applies to species identified in the SWAP as in need of conservation intervention.
