American White Pelican, photographed by Tom Munson

State Wildlife Action Plan updated

Presented by Wendy Connally, WDFW

Washington’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) has been updated with emphasis on habitat and ecosystem conservation, led by plan coordinator Wendy Connally of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Wendy, who sought input on the plan from SAS in a presentation in October 2023, will now share the highlights of the new SWAP.

The wildlife habitat emphasis is particularly important for species of greatest concern in Washington, like the Sharp-tailed grouse, American white pelican, Marbled murrelet, Northern spotted owl, and Sandhill crane. The SWAP also includes new conservation targets like rare plants and showcases conservation actions from species to statewide and transboundary scales. The criteria and supporting information will enable the Washington SWAP to fit better with Washington Department of Natural Resources’ Natural Heritage Program, neighboring states’ shared conservation priorities, national SWAP campaigns for durable conservation funding, and online map and dashboard development. The SWAP will be approved by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service by early May 2026, then posted to the WDFW State Wildlife Action Plan website.

Wendy’s roles in the Department have included managing teams in landscape conservation, rare species recovery, and community science. In her current role, she works with many programs, partners, and the public to promote and improve SWAP delivery and usefulness. For the past two years she has hosted briefings for tribes, conservation partners, agencies, and the public, and worked with more than 100 subject matter experts to deliver this third version of the Washington SWAP (2025 – 2035).

To join this meeting via Zoom, click here.