State wildlife action plans are helping to identify the
natural places where the nation needs to invest in
order to protect its wildlife and ensure a wide array
of benefits for people. This map is a mosaic of
current state maps of priority habitats.
Goal
From 2004-2009, the Environment Program's Habitat Conservation Initiative awarded grants to accelerate the conservation of essential habitats identified by the states in their wildlife action plans.
Strategies
- Identify Critical Lands and Waters – Supported state efforts to identify the natural areas that are terrestrial and freshwater conservation priorities, and, in so doing, helped create action plans that can serve a vital role as a focusing mechanism for policy and resources.
- Implement Land and Water Protection – Supported the conservation of lands and freshwater resources identified by the states in their wildlife action plans; helped improve the alignment between private, state and federal funding sources; and helped integrate the priorities of the wildlife action plans into other local, regional and national planning efforts.
- Build Conservation Knowledge – Supported targeted research and initiatives that are in keeping with the program's mission.
Background & Rationale
At the request of Congress, each of the 50 states, as well as the territories, worked with local scientists, sportsmen, conservationists and members of the public to develop a comprehensive action plan for conserving wildlife. In 2005, the states submitted these plans to the U.S. Department of the Interior, and all of the plans were approved. Collectively, these action plans provide one blueprint for protecting the natural places that provide essential habitat for wildlife, as well as a wide array of other benefits for people.
Although the conservation movement has made great strides in preserving our natural heritage, at least a third of our native wildlife is still at risk from the loss of habitat. And this risk is amplified with the challenges posed by a changing climate.
Because of the potential of the state wildlife action plans to help diverse constituencies work together, from 2004-2009 the foundation focused its environmental grant-making on the development, adoption and implementation of these plans.