A forward looking strategy to conserve Georgia’s natural resources
By 2035, Georgia’s landscapes may look vastly different—both in the wild and in the way we care for them. Guiding the state through the next decade of ecological stewardship is the newly released 2025–2035 Georgia State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP), a forward-looking strategy designed to conserve the state’s natural resources for both wildlife and our communities.
Now in its third iteration since 2005, Georgia’s SWAP takes a preventative approach to protecting biodiversity, offering a blueprint not just for crisis response but for ongoing, science-based and community supported conservation. With climate change, habitat loss, and species decline on the rise, the new plan couldn’t come at a more critical moment.
At its core, SWAP is Georgia’s official 10-year wildlife conservation strategy, created by Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in collaboration with more than 100 partners—from government agencies and researchers to landowners and Georgia-based nonprofits. It’s required under federal law to secure State Wildlife Grant funding, but it goes far beyond government compliance.
SWAP identifies priority species, maps habitats, and outlines best practices for land and water management. It empowers both public agencies, organizations, and private citizens to act as stewards of Georgia’s diverse landscapes, from the mountains to the marsh.
Georgia Conservancy staff members played key roles in the development of the 2025 SWAP. During the last two years, we’ve provided our knowledge and expertise to both the SWAP steering committee and multiple technical teams. Going forward, Georgia Conservancy will utilize the updated SWAP in all areas of our work, from advocacy at the State Capitol and statewide community planning to landowner outreach and environmental education.
One of the most striking updates in the 2025 SWAP is the increase in Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). The list has grown to 1,062 species, up from about 640 in 2015. This expansion reflects improved data and growing threats, and includes not just animals like bats and fish, but also rare plants, marine life, and terrestrial invertebrates. High-priority species range from the North Atlantic right whale to the Chattooga River crayfish, Sicklefin redhorse, the gopher tortoise, and Yellow pitcherplant.
Rather than waiting until a species is on the brink of extinction, SWAP emphasizes early intervention. By acting now, Georgia hopes to avoid more costly and complex recovery efforts later—including federal endangered species listings that can restrict land use and require intensive management. Conservation wins of the last decade is proof that this is possible through coordination action. Thanks to focused conservation priorities outlined in the 2015 SWAP, species like the red-cockaded woodpecker, smooth coneflower, and gopher tortoise have been either downlisted or precluded from endangered species status—proof that SWAP-led actions can deliver real results.
Another central strategy in the new SWAP is supporting wildlife movement corridors. As Georgia’s landscapes become increasingly fragmented by development, it’s crucial to maintain connections between habitats so that species can migrate, reproduce, and adapt to climate change.
With most of Georgia’s land in private hands (more than 90%), SWAP recognizes that private land stewardship is essential. The plan promotes voluntary, incentive-based programs like Forestry for Wildlife Partnership, habitat restoration grants, and cost-sharing tools that help landowners manage their land in ways that benefit native species. Georgia Conservancy and Association of Georgia Land Trusts will be key partners in this outreach strategy.
New to this SWAP cycle is the “Wild Georgia Conservation Hub”, a user-friendly online platform offering:
- Interactive maps of species and habitats
- Ecosystem “story maps”
- Project-tracking dashboards
- Technical reports and best practices
These resources make conservation more transparent and accessible—not just for scientists, land trusts, and policymakers, but for educators, students, and citizens interested in local wildlife.
SWAP includes updated land management recommendations, such as:
- Restoring native plants
- Reducing pesticide and herbicide use
- Minimizing solar development impacts on wildlife
- Using prescribed fire to maintain healthy habitats
- Creating pollinator meadows and wildlife-friendly infrastructure
These aren’t just good ideas—they’re backed by science and tailored to Georgia’s unique ecological regions.
This latest update was informed by months of public comment, held from February through April 2025. Georgia residents—farmers, educators, local leaders, and outdoor enthusiasts—were invited to share input, making the plan a truly shared conservation vision. As Brett Albanese, Assistant Chief of Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Conservation Division, said during the public comment period, “This is Georgia’s plan, not DNR’s. Experts and other partners helped develop a robust plan to address the threats to wildlife across the state. Now we need the full conservation community – and especially everyday citizens who enjoy and appreciate the outdoors – to help us refine and implement it.”
Implementation will be supported by targeted funding. In fact, Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Program’s Conserve Georgia Grant scoring will now prioritize projects aligned with SWAP goals. The plan also ensures Georgia remains eligible for vital federal State Wildlife Grants and continues to benefit from license plate sales, donations, and public-private partnerships.
The plan doesn’t just launch and leave. It includes built-in monitoring and adaptive management, ensuring that conservation efforts are regularly evaluated and refined over time based on measurable outcomes.
And the 2025 SWAP isn’t just a document—it’s a commitment to protect what makes Georgia’s natural landscapes and ecological communities unique. It’s about more than rare frogs or plants—it’s about the health of ecosystems that support agriculture, clean water, outdoor recreation, and local economies.
From the longleaf pine forests of the Coastal Plain to the cool creeks of the Blue Ridge, the plan lays the groundwork for coordinated, science-driven, and community-supported conservation.
In a time of rapid environmental change, Georgia’s State Wildlife Action Plan offers a model for proactive, inclusive, and practical conservation. With the right mix of tools, funding, and public will, the next 10 years could be some of the most important in the state’s environmental history.