Alabama's State Wildlife Action Plan
Alabama’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) is a statewide conservation roadmap for conserving Alabama’s aquatic and terrestrial wildlife, plants, and natural habitats for the future. The Alabama SWAP identifies species considered at risk, or Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), and outlines conservation actions needed to protect them.
What does a State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) do?
- Identifies at-risk species: Lists animals, fish, and other wildlife that need conservation attention.
- Identifies important habitats: Outlines forests, wetlands, rivers, grasslands, and other places wildlife needs to survive.
- Identifies threats: Examines problems such as habitat loss, pollution, invasive species, disease, etc.
- Recommends conservation actions: Outlines strategies to restore habitats, manage wildlife populations, and reduce threats.
- Guides funding and partnerships: Helps state wildlife agencies, landowners, researchers, nonprofits, and other partners prioritize conservation efforts.
The Alabama SWAP emphasize proactive management aimed at preventing wildlife declines before species become federally threatened or endangered, rather than waiting until federal recovery efforts are needed which are often more difficult and expensive. Having an established SWAP, is a federal requirement to receive funding through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s State Wildlife Grants (SWG) Program. Congress requires each state and territory to review and submit a revised SWAP at least every 10 years to maintain eligibility for SWG funding. Federal funding from the SWG Program supports a variety of conservation priorities identified in the Alabama’s SWAP, including research, surveys, habitat management, species restoration and monitoring for SGCN.
