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| Pennsylvania State Wildlife Action Plan | |
|---|---|
| Name | Pennsylvania State Wildlife Action Plan |
| Jurisdiction | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania |
| Agency | Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources |
| Created | 2005 (original), 2015 (revision), 2020s (ongoing updates) |
| Type | Conservation planning |
Pennsylvania State Wildlife Action Plan The Pennsylvania State Wildlife Action Plan is a statewide strategic plan that identifies at-risk wildlife species and habitats and prescribes conservation actions across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It aligns state priorities with federal programs such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's State Wildlife Grants, and coordinates management among agencies including the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. The Plan integrates science from universities and research institutions like Penn State University and University of Pittsburgh to direct conservation investments and guide regulatory and non-regulatory measures.
The Plan provides an inventory of species of greatest conservation need and a map-based assessment of ecological regions, including the Allegheny Plateau, Pocono Mountains, Appalachian Mountains, and the Atlantic Coastal Plain influence in southeastern counties. It links statewide conservation priorities to landscape-scale initiatives such as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Greenways and regional efforts like the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative where watersheds intersect. The document establishes priorities for habitats including old-growth forest stands in the Allegheny National Forest, riparian corridors along the Susquehanna River, and calcareous fens in the Pine Creek Gorge.
The original Plan emerged in response to the federal State Wildlife Grants Program authorization under the Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Act and subsequent reauthorizations, aligning with mandates from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Early collaborators included the National Wildlife Federation and state commissions formed during administrations of Pennsylvania governors such as Ed Rendell who emphasized conservation funding. Revisions incorporated data from the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program and academic studies from Temple University and Lehigh University to refine species lists and threat assessments. The Plan has evolved through stakeholder processes involving municipal governments like Philadelphia, regional groups like the Delaware River Basin Commission, and nonprofit partners such as The Nature Conservancy.
Primary goals mirror objectives set by partners including the National Park Service where applicable on lands such as Valley Forge National Historical Park: prevent species from becoming endangered, restore degraded habitats, and address emerging threats. Priority species lists include birds like the Golden-winged Warbler and Piping Plover where coastal habitat applies; mammals such as the Allegheny woodrat and Indiana bat; freshwater taxa including the Eastern Hellbender and native mussels affected in the Ohio River basin; and rare plants like the American ginseng and regional orchids found in the Ridge and Valley Appalachians. Species selection draws on assessments by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in addition to state inventories.
The Plan prescribes actions ranging from habitat protection via easements with organizations like Land Trust Alliance affiliates to restoration practices promoted by the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Strategies include invasive species management leveraging protocols from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stream restoration following guidance used in Chesapeake Bay watershed projects, and corridors linking protected areas such as the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area with state forests. Policy tools include coordination with regulatory entities like the Environmental Protection Agency for water quality improvements and collaboration with transportation agencies like the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to reduce road mortality for species such as the Timber Rattlesnake.
Implementation is multi-jurisdictional, involving federal partners such as the U.S. Forest Service on lands adjacent to the Allegheny National Forest, municipal authorities in cities like Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, regional watershed groups including the Susquehanna River Basin Commission, and nonprofit partners such as Audubon Pennsylvania and PennFuture. Academic contributors include Carnegie Museum of Natural History researchers and faculty from Drexel University. Stakeholder engagement processes have included tribal consultations where relevant with nations such as the Seneca Nation of New York on cultural resource considerations.
Monitoring frameworks reference methodologies used by the North American Breeding Bird Survey and the National Climate Assessment to quantify changing distributions under climate scenarios associated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Research priorities coordinate with initiatives at Penn State Altoona and cooperative extensions to track population trends for amphibians, reptiles, and freshwater mussels, and to evaluate restoration efficacy in places like the Kiskiminetas River. Adaptive management cycles use data from the Pennsylvania Natural Heritage Program and reporting to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to revise priority actions and integrate emerging science from institutions such as the Smithsonian Institution.
Funding streams include federal State Wildlife Grants administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state appropriations influenced by legislative action in the Pennsylvania General Assembly, and private grants from foundations like the William Penn Foundation. Funds are allocated to on-the-ground projects in partnership with agencies like the Pennsylvania Game Commission and conservation NGOs such as The Conservation Fund and Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, as well as for capacity building through universities like Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Financial planning addresses cost-sharing with the Natural Resources Conservation Service and leverages mitigation funding where infrastructure projects by entities such as the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission create offsets.
Category:Environment of Pennsylvania