Delaware identifies over 1,000 at-risk species in major wildlife conservation update

More than a thousand species have been identified as priorities for conservation in a sweeping update to Delaware’s Wildlife Action Plan, state officials announced this week.

The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) is leading the revision of the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan (DEWAP), a comprehensive 10-year strategy designed to guide conservation efforts through 2035.

Central to the plan is the Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) list, which highlights native species facing threats from habitat loss, declining populations, and other environmental pressures.

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At-risk animal AND plant species

In a key development, DNREC and its partners have proposed the inclusion of over 300 plant species to the SGCN list, raising the total number of species in need of protection to more than 1,000.

The list is categorized into three tiers based on the urgency of conservation needs, with Tier 1 representing the highest level of concern.

Each U.S. state develops its own SGCN list using criteria such as global and local rarity, federal or state endangered status, and regional conservation priority. In Delaware’s case, the list also considers species designated as priorities in the Northeast region.

DNREC is now seeking public input on the draft list and the broader plan.

Residents can review the draft and submit comments online here or via email to [email protected].

Additional draft sections of the plan will be released over the summer, with public meetings planned for July and August.

The final version of the updated Wildlife Action Plan is expected to be released this fall.

The update is the result of collaboration among numerous partners, including federal, state, and local agencies, academic institutions, non-profits, and members of the public.

DNREC’s Division of Fish and Wildlife, which leads the effort, manages more than 68,000 acres of public land and provides access for hunting, fishing, boating, and wildlife viewing.