The main entrance to the state Department of Environmental Conservation Region 5 headquarters in Ray Brook is seen on Saturday. The DEC is seeking public comment for its 2025-2035 State Wildlife Action Plan. Input is due by Jan. 14, 2025. (Enterprise photo — Chris Gaige)

ALBANY — The state Department of Environmental Conservation announced Friday that it is seeking public input on the draft list of Species of Greatest Conservation Need and associated species status assessments.

The information gathered will be used in updating the state Wildlife Action Plan. The plan is slated to begin in 2025 and remain active through 2035.

The DEC sought review and input on draft species status assessments earlier this year. 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 (the) health of the state’s wildlife and habitats,” he said.

The State Wildlife Action Plan guides management actions for New York’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need and is a requirement for New York to participate in the federally funded State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need 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 state Wildlife Action Plan serves as New York’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 State Wildlife Action Plan and update it every 10 years.

As part of the State Wildlife Action Plan public outreach process, the DEC solicits input from partners and stakeholders on Species of Greatest Conservation Need and strategies and actions to address threats to these species.

States may only spend grant funds on Species of Greatest Conservation Need identified in their state Wildlife Action Plan.

The DEC is seeking public input on the draft list and any additional sources of information on the status and distribution of New York’s Species of Greatest Conservation Need, including new information on threats to these species. All input and data are due by Jan. 14, 2025.

The public can also nominate a new species for the list, 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 Species of Greatest Conservation Need 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.

The DEC will provide an opportunity for public review and comments of the full updated State Wildlife Action Plan 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. Include “Draft SGCN List” 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 Species of Greatest Conservation Need list or status assessment revision process can be sent to the state Wildlife Action Plan Coordinator at nyswap2025@dec.ny.gov or call 518-402-8858.

More information on the state Wildlife Action Plan — including a draft list and revised species status assessments — can be found at tinyurl.com/4ucpd6fj.