Introduction
The goal of the Massachusetts State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) is to proactively conserve Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in the Commonwealth. This is achieved by reviewing threats and identifying conservation actions to halt and reverse the loss of these rare and vulnerable species and their habitats—all while keeping common species common.
For decades, BioMap has provided a framework that guides strategic protection and stewardship of lands and waters that are most important for conserving biological diversity in Massachusetts. In 2022, MassWildlife and The Nature Conservancy released an updated and expanded BioMap. MassWildlife has updated the SWAP to incorporate BioMap data and conservation and restoration recommendations for SCGN and their habitats. After public review and comment, MassWildlife anticipates submitting the SWAP to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for review and approval in late September 2025.
Public input
Conservation partners and the public are critical to updating the plan and putting its recommendations into practice. Public comments on the Draft 2025–2035 SWAP will be accepted through Monday, August 18 using this online form or in writing by mail to: MassWildlife Re: SWAP Public Comment, 1 Rabbit Hill Road, Westborough, MA 01581.
MassWildlife held a public information session on July 17 about the draft changes to the 2025 SWAP. Watch the Zoom recording in English and American Sign Language (ASL) below. Click here to watch the recording in Español. Click here to watch the recording in Tiếng Việt. Click here to watch the video in Chinese 中文.
Video: SWAP Information Session Recording — July 17, 2025
Skip this video SWAP Information Session Recording — July 17, 2025.What's new for 2025?
MassWildlife developed its first State Wildlife Action Plan in 2005 and updated it in 2015. The 2025 Massachusetts SWAP:
- is available entirely online;
- builds off of BioMap, which is an online tool that guides the strategic protection and stewardship of lands and waters that are most important for biodiversity conservation in Massachusetts;
- features 619 Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) with an updated dashboard and fact sheets;
- describes 35 habitat categories containing over 100 distinct natural communities that are essential for conserving SGCN in Massachusetts; and,
- identifies key actions needed to help conserve and restore SGCN.
Species of Greatest Conservation Need
The 2025 SWAP designates 619 plants and animals as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in Massachusetts. MassWildlife biologists, with review and cooperation from conservation partners and species experts, developed criteria for designating SGCN. These include risk of extirpation (disappearing from MA), population trends, regional conservation concerns, emerging threats, and climate change vulnerability.
Habitats of Massachusetts
Habitat protection and restoration are key to conserving biodiversity in Massachusetts. Our nearly 3 million acres of forest, 1,500 miles of coastline, over 2,000 miles of rivers and streams, and expansive wetlands provide habitat for a variety of plants and animals, as well as ecosystem services that benefit all people in the Commonwealth. MassWildlife has grouped habitats into 35 categories that contain over 100 distinct natural communities; each SGCN relies on one or more habitats to survive.
Conservation Actions
The actions identified in the SWAP to ensure the conservation of populations of SGCN fall into 6 broad categories: conservation planning; proactive habitat protection; habitat restoration and management; law and policy; monitoring and research; and public outreach. These conservation actions can be found in several locations, including:
- Species of Greatest Conservation Need: SGCN web pages contain specific conservation actions for plant and animal species, including species listed under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act.
- Habitats of Massachusetts: These pages contain information about conservation actions for specific habitats and natural communities, including consideration of habitat management and restoration needs.
- BioMap: BioMap incorporates the species and habitat content listed above, as well as an important map to help guide protection and restoration at statewide, regional, and local scales.
- Conservation Actions: This page provides a summary of key conservation actions at a statewide scale.
Effectiveness Monitoring and Adaptive Management
Monitoring of conservation actions and measuring success is necessary to determine the effectiveness of efforts to protect and restore biodiversity, natural areas, and open spaces in Massachusetts.
Note that additional content related to monitoring can be found in the SGCN and habitat web pages, as well as in the BioMap Habitat Restoration Resource Center.
2015 SWAP
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Open PDF file, 14.97 MB, MA State Wildlife Action Plan - 2015 (full PDF download) (English, PDF 14.97 MB)