September 4, 2024 | By: and

Engaging in State Wildlife Action Plan Revisions

Cougar Almost Home (c) Rod MacIver

Cougar Almost Home © Rod MacIver

By Michelle Lute and Kevin Bixby, on behalf of Wildlife for All and The Rewilding Institute

As many states prepare to revise their State Wildlife Action Plans (SWAPs) in 2025, a critical opportunity arises for us to advocate for more comprehensive and effective conservation strategies. These plans are essential for guiding wildlife conservation efforts, identifying species in greatest need of protection, and outlining key actions to preserve our natural heritage.

Wildlife for All, in collaboration with The Rewilding Institute, is excited to introduce a primer designed to support your engagement in this crucial process. This primer offers guidance on how to advocate for robust engagement with your state agency and fellow wildlife advocates to ensure that SWAPs are grounded in the best available science and benefit from broad community input.

The Fundamental Challenge of State Wildlife Management

Simply put, wildlife in the US cannot be protected effectively, biodiversity cannot be preserved, and extinctions cannot be prevented until the system of wildlife management in every state is transformed.

The world’s wildlife faces a grim future. The fabric of life is unraveling as habitats are destroyed and species are driven towards extinction. Vertebrate populations have declined worldwide by more than two-thirds on average since 1970, and North America has lost nearly three billion birds over the same period. Nearly one-fifth of animal species in the US are currently threatened with extinction. Bold action is needed to reverse these trends.

In the US, the first line of defense against this “biological annihilation” lies with state governments, not the federal government. With a few exceptions such as species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, states have primary jurisdiction over the wildlife within their borders.

And yet, states are missing in action. Why?

The short answer is that states prioritize the wrong thing. Instead of focusing on protecting all species and ecosystems in the face of a global extinction crisis, they emphasize providing hunting and fishing opportunities for “consumptive users” who, in turn, buy the licenses that generate revenue for state wildlife agencies. This entrenched system resists change, and it is our job as wildlife advocates to change it.

Engaging in the upcoming SWAP revisions is essential to addressing these fundamental challenges. SWAPs are one of the only policies that focus on the threats to non-game species and the need to address them. There’s only one chance every decade to get the SWAPs right. Your involvement can make a significant difference in the effectiveness of your state’s SWAP. By advocating for robust scientific and public engagement, you help ensure that these plans lead to meaningful conservation outcomes.

Why Your Voice Matters

State Wildlife Action Plans must address eight key elements mandated by Congress, covering species distribution, key habitats, threats, conservation actions, monitoring, review procedures, coordination with other agencies, and public participation. However, the effectiveness of these plans hinges on genuine engagement with a diverse range of stakeholders, including independent scientists, wildlife advocates, and the general public.

Broad and meaningful participation can prevent SWAPs from becoming mere bureaucratic exercises. Instead, they can evolve into dynamic, adaptive plans that truly reflect the ecological needs and values of our communities. They offer an opportunity for wildlife advocates to engage with their state wildlife commissions and agencies in a way that encourages decision-makers to shift their priorities from serving hunters and anglers to protecting all species for the benefit of everyone.

States with Forthcoming SWAP Revisions in 2025 (with links to current plans)

The Primer: A Resource for Advocacy

Our primer is designed to empower you to participate effectively in your state’s SWAP revision process. Here’s how it can help:

  • Understanding the Process: The primer breaks down the eight required elements of SWAPs and explains why each is crucial for successful wildlife conservation.
  • Getting Involved: It provides practical steps for participating in public meetings, submitting comments, and engaging with conservation experts.
  • Advocacy Tips: The primer offers strategies for advocating transparency, comprehensive data use, and adaptive management.
  • Resource Connections: It helps you identify where to connect with key contacts, conservation organizations, and best practices documents to support your advocacy efforts.

Recent Advocacy Successes

The Rewilding Institute has already made significant strides in advocating for improved SWAPs. Recently, we submitted two sets of public comments on the New York State Wildlife Action Plan, focusing on cougar and wolf conservation.

  • Cougar Conservation: Developed jointly with the Cougar Rewilding Foundation’s Chris Spatz, these comments emphasize the need for New York’s SWAP to include comprehensive strategies for cougar reintroduction and habitat connectivity.
  • Wolf Conservation: In collaboration with Renee Seacor of Project Coyote, our comments advocate for the recognition of suitable wolf habitat in New York and propose measures for the protection of wild canids (e.g., eastern coyotes, wolves, and their possible hybrids) and potential rewilding via Eastern wild canids.

These efforts highlight the importance of addressing specific species and using scientific expertise to guide conservation actions. They also demonstrate the powerful impact of coordinated advocacy.

A Call to Action

As we approach the 2025 revisions of many state SWAPs, now is the time to get involved. Your voice can help ensure that these plans are not only comprehensive and scientifically sound but also reflect the values and priorities of the broader community.

We invite you to use our primer as a resource and join us in advocating for robust public and scientific engagement in the SWAP revision process. Together, we can make a lasting difference for wildlife conservation.

For more information, please visit Wildlife for All to access the primer. Let’s work together to create a future where wildlife thrives.


Michelle Lute is the Executive Director and Kevin Bixby is the Founder and Senior Advisor of Wildlife for All, a national movement to reform state wildlife management to be more democratic, just, compassionate, and focused on protecting wild species and ecosystems. Michelle is also a board member at The Rewilding Institute, dedicated to advancing continental-scale conservation and restoration in North America and beyond.

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