DEC Seeking Data on Vulnerable Species to Inform New Status Assessments

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) today announced it is seeking data on species status assessments for use in updating New York’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) for 2025-35. The 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 New York State currently experiencing threats likely to jeopardize the future of their populations if action is not taken within the next 10 years.

“The preservation of New York State’s iconic wildlife is critical to the long-term health of our environment,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “Data provided by the public to help inform the process of updating the State’s Wildlife Action Plan will bolster DEC’s ongoing efforts to conserve wildlife and protect habitats for the enjoyment of future generations of New Yorkers.”

The SWAP serves as New York State’s guiding document for managing and conserving species and habitats before they become too rare or costly to restore. 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. Each SGCN listed in the 2015 action plan has a species status assessment (SSA) updated for the 2025 SWAP. DEC is seeking public input on additional sources of information on the status and distribution of New York’s SGCN, including new information on threats to these species.

Draft revised SSAs are available to download from the DEC website. The public can 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 [email protected] by June 17, 2024.

DEC will provide an opportunity for public comment on the draft SGCN list for the 2025 SWAP later this year. In addition, there will be an opportunity for public review and comment of the updated SWAP prior to its submission to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

All input and data are due by June 17, 2024, and may be submitted by email to [email protected]. Please include “SGCN Feedback” in the subject line. Information may also be sent by mail to:

SWAP Coordinator
Division of Fish and Wildlife
NYSDEC
625 Broadway
Albany, NY 12233-4754

Questions about the status assessment process can be sent to the SWAP Coordinator at [email protected] or by phone at (518) 402-8858. For more information on New York’s State Wildlife Action Plan, visit the DEC website.