DELAWARE- Delaware’s 10-year conservation strategy is being overhauled, and this time, more than 300 plant species are being added to the list of concern.
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is updating the Delaware Wildlife Action Plan, a roadmap for protecting vulnerable wildlife and habitats through 2035. The update is being led by the DNREC Division of Fish and Wildlife with help from government agencies, nonprofits, local colleges and universities, and input from the public.
At the plan's core is the Species of Greatest Conservation Need list, which includes native species at risk due to declining populations, rarity, or endangered status. The new draft list proposes more than 1,000 species — including, for the first time, hundreds of native plants.
Each species on the list is assigned a priority level, tier 1, 2 or 3, depending on how urgent the conservation need is. DNREC uses factors like global and state rarity, endangered status, and regional conservation rankings to determine which species are included.
Locals are invited to review the draft list and provide feedback. The state says there will be public meetings in July and August, with and the final plan expected to be released in the fall.
Delaware’s Wildlife Action Plan is required to be updated every 10 years to maintain eligibility for federal conservation funding.