State Wildlife Action Plan

​What is the Kentucky State Wildlife Action Plan?

Kentucky’s state wildlife action plan summarizes the status of our state’s more vulnerable wildlife species and the condition of habitat on which they depend. It is a blueprint to drive conservation priorities and decision-making, developed by partners and approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Actions plans are adaptive: regularly reviewed and updated to keep current with emerging wildlife issues.

Why is it Important?

To maintain the health and diversity of Kentucky’s fish and wildlife resources, we must prioritize projects and direct limited financial resources where they are most effective. Our strategy includes management of currently rare/endangered species, those that are in decline, and many that have received less attention in the past. Because recovery is more costly and difficult to achieve once a species is imperiled, our goal is to intervene before a species is in crisis. In addtion, we strive to keep our common species common and ensure healthy resouces for future generations of Kentuckians.

What Species are Included?

Kentucky’s current plan identifies 301 species in greatest conservation need, including freshwater mussels, fishes, crayfish, songbirds, reptlies, turtles, amphibians, and mammals. During the revision process, species specialists evaluate new information to keep this list current. They also consider ongoing and new enviornmental stressors and idenfity specific conservation efforts necessary for recovery of these species and their associated habitats.

Mussels

Fishes

Crayfish

Birds

Amphibians

Reptiles

Mammals

Insects

Plants

Priority Habitats

Conservation Actions

• Surveys and monitoring to fill in knowledge gaps
• Create, enhance, and restore habitat connectivity
• Invasive species control
• Regional collaboration

Who Can Use Kentucky’s Plan?

This is a plan for ALL Kentuckians: government agencies, conservation groups, schools and universities, environmental consulting firms, city planners and interested citizens. Partnerships are key to implementing effective conservation actions.