State Wildlife Action Plan

Maine's State Wildlife Action Plan serves as a blueprint and shared vision for proactively conserving the state's fish and wildlife, both keeping common species common and preventing at-risk species from becoming endangered. Proposed conservation actions are voluntary, non-regulatory, and are intended to supplement, not duplicate, existing fish and wildlife programs. First created in 2005, the Plan is updated every 10 years to periodically evaluate the health of wildlife populations and identify conservation opportunities.

Maine's Wildlife Action Plan reflects the expertise and knowledge of over 100 conservation partner groups, including state and federal agencies, tribal nations, conservation organizations, and members of the public. This collaboration approach provides the foundation on which the Plan was built and will continue the next ten years while implementing the Plan. Together we can better protect Maine's fish, wildlife, and natural resources for future generations.

Plan Elements & Downloads

Introduction & Executive Summary (PDF)

Review background information and the importance of Maine's Wildlife Action Plan for wildlife conservation. This section provides a brief overview of each element and foundational insights prior to reading individual elements.

Element 1: Species of Greatest Conservation Need (PDF)

Learn about the process of assessing Maine's wildlife diversity, which resulted in the identification of 721 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). These species are either intrinsically rare to Maine, are experiencing population declines, or represent important stewardship responsibilities for the state.

Element 2: Key Habitats and Natural Communities (PDF)

Review Maine's habitat classifications in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems, and review the conservation status of habitats across Maine.

Element 3: Problems Affecting SGCN and their Habitats (PDF)

Learn about the types of threats impacting Maine's wildlife and key habitats these species rely on. Threats were prioritized to inform creation of conservation actions presented in Element 4.

Element 4: Conservation Actions (PDF)

Review the voluntary conservation actions proposed to address high priority threats for Species of Greatest Conservation Need and key habitats across Maine. These actions vary from specific-specific, to landscape-level actions intended to mitigate known threats.

Elements 5 and 6: Monitoring and Plan Revision (PDF)

Learn about the methods used to monitor and assess Maine's Wildlife Action Plan implementation for both Species of Greatest Conservation Need and the habitats they rely on.

Elements 7 and 8: Coordination with Partners and Public Participation (PDF)

Learn about the collaborative approach used while revising Maine's Wildlife Action Plan, the conservation partners invited to participate, and our approach to engage with the Maine public throughout this process.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the plan for?

Maine's 2025-2035 Wildlife Action Plan is a shared vision for our state that identifies the voluntary steps needed to conserve priority wildlife species and habitats through public awareness and partnerships. The Plan identifies Maine's Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), the habitats where SGCN are found, and the recommended 'conservation actions' to help prevent further declines in species and habitats over the next ten years. The 2025-2035 Plan also qualifies Maine to receive funds for wildlife conservation projects from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) under the State and Tribal Wildlife Grant (STWG) program.

Who wrote the plan?

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW), Maine Department of Marine Resources (DMR), Maine Natural Areas Program (MNAP), and Maine Audubon wrote the Plan with input from over 100 conservation partners representing many interests including private landowners, conservation organizations, sporting groups, scientists, and governmental agencies.

The list of invited conservation partners begins on page 9 of 2025 SWAP Element 7 and 8 (PDF).

How was the Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) list developed?

MDIFW biologists, with review and cooperation from conservation partners and species experts, developed conservation criteria for designating Maine's eligible SGCN. For each species in Maine, MDIFW and partners reviewed the best available science to determine if the SGCN criteria were met. If so, the species was added to the list of SGCN at one of three priority levels (1=critical; 2=high; 3=moderate) depending on which and how many criteria were met. The primary themes for SGCN prioritization include risk of extirpation, population trend, endemicity, and regional conservation concerns. Secondary themes for SGCN prioritization include climate change vulnerability, survey knowledge, and indigenous cultural significance.

The full SGCN criteria can be reviewed on page 32 of 2025 SWAP Element 1 (PDF).

How are SGCN different from Threatened and Endangered (T/E) Species?

SGCN are different from T/E species in several ways. First, T/E species are eligible for regulation under the Maine and/or Federal Endangered Species Acts (ESA). Some activities that affect these species or habitats also are potentially regulated. In contrast, SGCN species are not regulated. Many state and federal T/E species also qualify for SGCN status; but, this designation does not add any additional regulations. There are many more SGCN than there are listed T/E species. For example, there are 57 T/E species listed under Maine's ESA, but there are 721 SGCN in Maine's 2025-2035 Wildlife Action Plan. By designating a species as SGCN now, we can take preventative steps to avoid the need for listing the species in the future under the State or Federal ESA.

Where can I find the list of SGCN?

The full list of SGCN can be reviewed in Element 1. SGCN are organized by groups (e.g., birds, mammals, amphibians, etc.); click on each species to view a report that details how the species qualifies as SGCN, associated habitats, distribution range in Maine, threats affecting the species and its habitats, and conservation actions proposed to prevent future declines over the next ten years

What is included in a Wildlife Action Plan?

In order to be approved by USFWS, Wildlife Action Plans must address the eight elements outlined on page 15 of the 2025 SWAP Introduction (PDF).

How can I get involved?

Completing the 2025-2035 Plan was just the first step. The success of Maine's Plan relies on your participation and partnership. The Plan presents conservation actions ranging from local, SGCN-specific efforts to those with a landscape focus. We hope you will see a role for yourself or your organization in these actions.

If you belong to one of the conservation partner organizations that participated in writing the 2025-2035 Plan (page 9 of 2025 SWAP Element 7 and 8 (PDF)), you may wish to contact your local chapter or media representative for more information.

As the Plan is implemented, we hope to provide ongoing workshops and informational sessions on accessing and using Plan information. Please contact us for more information.