Public comment period now open!
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
*mefishwildlife.com*
Help us frame the next 10 years of conservation in Maine!
Purple sandpipers on a snowy ledge.
Purple sandpipers - photo by Logan Parker
Maine’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) serves as our blueprints for proactively conserving fish, wildlife, and plants to prevent species from becoming Endangered. The plan outlines hundreds of Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), describes their habitats, identifies key threats to SGCN and habitats, and recommends actions to keep common species common and prevent at-risk species from becoming Endangered.
The plan is revised every ten years to evaluate the health of wildlife populations and identify opportunities to conserve species and vital habitats before they become rarer and more costly to protect. Last updated in 2015, we are now actively working on a 2025 update.
We want to hear from you!
People gathered around a table reviewing paperwork.
We invite you to provide input on the draft Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) list as part of the collaborative 2025 SWAP Revision [ [link removed] ] process.
Please take the time to review the current SGCN draft list, [ [link removed] ] as well as the criteria for listing and ranking of SGCN [ [link removed] ], then *provide feedback using our online form by Sunday, April 20, 2025.*
Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to provide comments on the SWAP as the revision process progresses and to continue your involvement in conservation in Maine.
*Provide Feedback* [ [link removed] ]
________________________________________________________________________
What's in a State Wildlife Action Plan?
An aerial view of a wetland near a roadway
Maine's SWAP is a shared vision for our state that reflects the expertise of state and federal agencies, conservation organizations, tribes, scientists, outdoor enthusiasts, conservationists, landowners, academics, guides, community leaders, and more!
An approved SWAP is required by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to be eligible for State Wildlife Grants [ [link removed] ], a key federal funding source for states to conserve nongame species. The eight elements of Maine's SWAP are:
* Identification Species of Greatest Conservation Need
* Description of Key Habitats and Natural Communities
* Identification of Threats to SGCN and their Habitats
* Description of Proposed Conservation Actions
* Proposed Plans for Species and Habitat Monitoring
* Procedure for Periodic Review
* Plans for Coordination with Partners
* Public Participation
*Learn more about the Maine SWAP* [ [link removed] ]
________________________________________________________________________
What is a Species of Greatest Conservation Need?
A wood turtle.
A critical dilemma facing conservation biologists and managers worldwide is the need to allocate limited dollars, staff, and programmatic resources toward a growing list of conservation challenges. Foundational to this prioritization process is the development of a SGCN list.
The primary themes for SGCN prioritization include risk of extirpation, population trend, endemicity, and regional conservation responsibility. Secondary themes for SGCN prioritization include climate change vulnerability, survey knowledge, and indigenous cultural significance.
By designating a species as SGCN now, we can take preventative steps to avoid the need for listing the species under the State or Federal Endangered Species Act in the future.
________________________________________________________________________
More information
2015 Maine SWAP [ [link removed] ]
Maine Endangered and Threatened Species [ [link removed] ]
Maine Endangered Species Act of 1975 [ [link removed] ]
Support Wildlife Conservation in Maine [ [link removed] ]
The North American Model for Wildlife Conservation [ [link removed] ]
Species Planning in Maine [ [link removed] ]
Stay Connected with Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife: Facebook [ [link removed] ] Twitter [ [link removed] ] Youtube [ [link removed] ] LinkedIn [ [link removed] ] Govdelivery [ [link removed] ]
SUBSCRIBER SERVICES:
Manage Subscriptions [ [link removed] ] | Unsubscribe All [ [link removed] ] | Help [ [link removed] ]
________________________________________________________________________
This email was sent to
[email protected] using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife ·41 State House Station · Augusta, ME 04333-0041 · (207) 287-8000 GovDelivery logo [ [link removed] ]
