2015 Tennessee Wildlife Action Plan

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has approved Tennessee’s 2015 State Wildlife Action Plan (TN SWAP), which is an update of the original plan submitted in 2005. Approved on June 10th, 2016 it will serve as Tennessee’s comprehensive wildlife strategy for the next 10 years.

Executive Summary

Road Map to the 8 Elements

Introduction

Chapter 1: Overview of Tennessee and Approach to the State Wildlife Action Plan

Chapter 2: Tennessee State Accomplishments under the 2005 SWAP

Chapter 3: Species of Greatest Conservation Need and Priority Habitats

Chapter 4: Problems Affecting Species and Habitats

Chapter 5: Conservation Strategies and Actions

Chapter 6: Monitoring for Results and Adaptive Management

Chapter 7: Tennessee SWAP Review and Revision

TN SWAP Conservation Opportunity Areas

Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

Database Development & Spatial Analyses

References & Glossary of Terms

Appendices

Acknowledgments

List of Acronyms

 

 

Download the  2015 SWAP - Official Document

The Eight Required Elements Of the State Wildlife Action Plan

Congress identified eight required elements to be addressed in each state’s wildlife conservation strategy. Congress also directed that the strategies must identify and be focused on the “species in greatest need of conservation,” yet address the “full array of wildlife” and wildlife-related issues.

Congress also affirmed through this legislation that broad public participation is an essential element of developing and implementing these plans, the projects that are carried out while these plans are developed, and the species in the greatest need of conservation that Congress has indicated such programs and projects are intended to emphasize.

The strategies must provide and make use of the following:

Information on the distribution and abundance of species of wildlife including low and declining populations as the state fish and wildlife agency deems appropriate, that are indicative of the diversity and health of the states wildlife; and,

Descriptions of locations and relative condition of key habitats and community types essential to conservation of species identified

Descriptions of problems which may adversely affect species identified or their habitats, and priority research and survey efforts needed to identify factors which may assist in restoration and improved conservation of these species and habitats

Descriptions of conservation actions proposed to conserve the identified species and habitats and priorities for implementing such action

Proposed plans for monitoring species identified and their habitats for monitoring the effectiveness of the conservation actions proposed, and for adapting these conservation actions to respond appropriately to new information or changing conditions

Descriptions of the procedures to review the strategy at intervals not to exceed ten years

Plans for coordinating the development, implementation, review, and revision of the plan with federal, state, and local agencies and Indian tribes that manage significant land and water areas within the state or administer programs that significantly affect the conservation of identified species and habitats.

How You Can Help

Contact your Congressmen and Senators to express your support for the Wildlife Action Plan and urge them to support the measure in Congress.

To be added to the TWRA Wildlife Action Network email list and to receive regular updates about the TN SWAP revision process progress, please contact Lindsay Gardner, TN State Wildlife Action Plan Communications Coordinator, atlindsay.gardner@tn.gov.  The Network is TWRA's grassroots coalition dedicated to preserving Tennessee's wildlife and habitat for future generations to come.

For more information about the Tennessee Wildlife Action Plan, State Wildlife Grants Program, the Teaming with Wildlife initiative, or to submit questions or comments about the SWAP update process, contact Bill Reeves, TWRA Chief of Biodiversity at bill.reeves@tn.gov or 615-781-6645.

Tennessee SWAP Related Publications and Links

Publications

TWRA Planning Documents

  • Nongame and Endangered Species Program Operation Plan 2006 
  • TWRA Strategic Plan

Other Associated Documents

Links