SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (Department) is releasing the draft 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan for New Mexico (SWAP) for public comment. The comprehensive, federally mandated 10-year review and revision of the SWAP began in May, 2023, and presentations were made at the State Game Commission meetings on Aug. 25, 2023, and Aug. 9, 2024.
The SWAP identifies Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN), their habitats, threats to SGCN and their habitats and conservation actions that can be taken to mitigate these threats and benefit SGCN and their habitats. The revision process has included the following: 1) a comprehensive review and update of the SGCN list to reflect new information on species status and to add pollinating insects; 2) addition of more recent information regarding threats faced by SGCN, including climate change; 3) addition of updated best management practices regarding conservation actions to benefit SGCN, including an emphasis on climate change; 4) addition of a climate change vulnerability analysis regarding 295 vertebrate SGCN; 5) addition of Riparian Conservation Opportunity Areas, to help prioritize riparian areas for conservation and restoration work across the state; 6) updates to habitat descriptions and Conservation Opportunity Area boundaries and associated maps.
The draft 2025 SWAP is posted on the Department’s Public Comment page and SWAP page.
Comments on the 2025 draft SWAP can be provided by email, dgf-SWAP@dgf.nm.gov, by June 9, 2025.