Integrating climate-informed planning into State Wildlife Action Plans in the north central United States

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Abstract

State fish and wildlife agencies are required to submit a State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) every 10 years to be eligible for grants through the State Wildlife Grant Program. With the next round of revisions due in 2025, the U.S. Geological Survey North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center is evaluating how to best support states with further integrating climate-informed planning in their SWAPs. Here, we summarize how states in the North Central region, which includes Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, addressed adaptation planning in their 2015 SWAPs. We review climate adaptation considerations in required SWAP elements one through five, including species, habitats, threats, conservation actions, and conservation monitoring, respectively. We also include a list of potential strategies that the North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center could use to support states in the North Central region with further advancing the integration of climate informed planning in ongoing and future SWAP revisions. These strategies were primarily identified during meetings in 2021 with six of seven state fish and wildlife agencies in the North Central region where we discussed their priority needs relating to climate-informed planning. Our hope is that these strategies will enhance existing efforts in the region to advance the integration of climate change in conservation planning.

Study Area

Publication type Report
Publication Subtype Federal Government Series
Title Integrating climate-informed planning into State Wildlife Action Plans in the north central United States
DOI 10.21429/a2et-te45
Year Published 2022
Language English
Publisher North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center
Contributing office(s) Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, North Central Climate Adaptation Science Center
Description 41 p.
Country United States
State Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
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