Fourth of four years to revise maryland wildlife action plan (1) list species in a prioritized list of greatest conservation need (GCN) (2) information on the distribution and abundance of wildlife…

The State of Maryland Department of Natural Resources received a $157,550 Formula Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program (CFDA 15.634) for the fourth and final year of a multi-year project to revise Maryland's Wildlife Action Plan. The award period runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. The primary deliverables include: (1) a prioritized list of species of greatest conservation need; (2) documentation of wildlife distribution and abundance; (3) descriptions of key habitats and communities supporting target species; (4) identification and analysis of threats to species and their supporting habitats; (5) prioritized conservation actions; (6) species and habitat monitoring plans; (7) integration of regional and landscape-level project data; and (8) procedures for plan review and updates.

The Wildlife Action Plan revision also incorporates coordination mechanisms with implementation partners and public participation strategies to ensure comprehensive stakeholder engagement in plan execution. This formula grant supports Maryland's proactive conservation strategy under the SWG Program, which emphasizes preventing species decline before endangered species protections become necessary. The State of Maryland Executive Office's Volunteer Maryland division serves as the parent entity for the primary awardee, potentially facilitating volunteer mobilization and civic engagement components of the plan's implementation and monitoring activities.

Fourth of four years to revise maryland wildlife action plan (1) list species in a prioritized list of greatest conservation need (GCN) (2) information on the distribution and abundance of wildlife (3) descriptions of locations and conditions of key habitats and communities that support target species (4) descriptions of problems that may adversely affect GCN species and the habitats that support them (5) description and prioritization of conservation actions needed to conserve these species and habitats (6) plans for monitoring species, their habitats, and effectiveness of conservation actions (7) information from regional and landscape-level projects (8) descriptions of procedures to review and update the plan and (9) plans for coordinating with appropriate partners for revising and implementing the plan, including public participation.