CONSERVATION ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE:
A Review of the State Wildlife Action Plans

Executive Summary (download pdf of report)

Over the last 30 years government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and new partnerships have expanded the ability to conduct conservation at the landscape scale in the United States. A sound strategic plan is a critical centerpiece for any effective implementation of large-scale conservation. Numerous statewide and regional planning models exist, created by conservation organizations and innovative state agencies. In 2000, Congress created the State Wildlife Grants Program, presenting an historic opportunity to get ahead of our nation's mounting endangered species challenge. The state wildlife action plans produced in each state and U.S. territory are an important aspect of this program and its greatest hope for success. These new plans and their supporting conservation partners working to expand and implement strategic conservation across the landscape are proactive solutions that should help reverse the decline of species and habitats.

The State Wildlife Grants Program provides the opportunity for states to develop the strategic frameworks linking diverse conservation efforts within states with the resources needed to effectively protect species and habitats. Defenders of Wildlife reviewed all available state wildlife action plans and the majority of U.S. territorial plans to determine how well the plans guide strategic action for wildlife conservation and are likely to lead to successful implementation. Here we present a summary of our findings.

This report highlights the positive aspects of these plans as well as the challenges. We attempt to present an objective assessment of the plans and their utility for achieving on the ground conservation. It is our hope that our observations and recommendations will be instructive toward advancing future versions of the plans and their implementation.

The plans varied widely both in their approach to conservation and in their overall quality. Some states clearly took this opportunity to confront tough conservation issues head on and created plans that truly will move conservation efforts in their states forward. Other states lacked resources, personnel or initiative to go much farther than the bare minimum requirements. Due to these differences, the aggregate plans do not yet collectively add up to a national strategy for conservation. However, there are lessons to be learned from this first round of plans which can be used to help achieve such a national vision. Defenders' review of the plans was supported by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation which has dedicated its environment program specifically to the advancement of these plans and their use in wildlife conservation nationwide.

States generally did a good job with the assessment portion of their task identifying species of concern, gathering relevant information, and documenting problems or threats to species and habitats. Many realized the need for a habitat approach to wildlife conservation. It was with the strategic aspects of their plans that many states struggled, often not setting clear and measurable goals, prioritizing actions, identifying focal areas in which to work, coordinating with other agencies or setting up clear monitoring systems for tracking both plan actions and habitat conditions. At least a dozen states produced excellent quality plans that provide a solid foundation for conservation action. Many of these had never produced a state plan until now. They now serve as models to their fellow states.

Many good models for statewide and regional conservation planning were available to states, but went unused. A variety of funding sources which could help implement plans were not considered. To address the pervasive problem of habitat loss, state plans need to inform other land use planning activities at federal, state, and local levels. This integration and coordination will be critical for successful plan implementation, but was missing from many plans. As a result, we felt these were critical missed opportunities.

The report concludes with some recommendations for how the plans and their implementation can be strengthened including goal setting, focal area mapping, prioritization of actions, integration with other planning, comprehensive monitoring systems, and establishing implementation committees.

The state wildlife action plans are a monumental achievement and will improve over time. In Defenders' view, the program is a critical and essential upstream solution to the growing problem of species endangerment. It is a preventative program that complements the Endangered Species Act. Plans can be used to guide the activity of state agencies and partners, their accountability for wildlife conservation, and course correction through adaptive management. Defenders of Wildlife has been committed to this program since its inception and will continue to be strong advocates for the plans and their implementation. We believe the success of the State Wildlife Grants Program is critical to the future of conservation where proactive strategic habitat conservation is needed. These plans could provide the framework to get us there.

Click here to download a copy of the full report in pdf format.

Updated 3-16-06