Conservation actions and research, survey, and monitoring needs were developed for the 2015 DEWAP based on a review of existing conservation and management plans and information provided by DNREC DFW staff and key partners and stakeholders during the DEWAP input process. These conservation programs and plans were identified through a literature search compiling current local, state and regional, national, and international conservation plans and data sources.

Conservation actions for the 2025 revision were developed using a similar process and began with a review of the 2015 actions. The Revision Development Team converted each of the 2015 Issues and Actions to the CMP system using the categories identified in the Northeast Lexicon. Each action was reevaluated and revised, as needed, using the Northeast Lexicon criteria (Crisfield and NEFWDTC 2022). Progress on actions since the 2015 DEWAP was also evaluated as well as the need to continue the action. Performance measures for each action were evaluated, and Species and Habitat Monitoring describes the approach to monitoring these measures in more detail. Actions were sent to taxonomic experts for review, and draft conservation actions were sent to stakeholders for review and comment. These teams identified gaps, suggested new actions, and reviewed the actions compiled. Actions were categorized using the Northeast Lexicon criteria (common terminology that the 13 northeastern states agreed upon) and coded for consistency and clarity.

Worksheets and reports with draft actions, organized by taxa, were distributed to DNREC and partner programs for their final review of the draft 2025 conservation actions. Partner and stakeholder input was requested, and draft actions were posted on the web for public review and comment. All comments were recorded and compiled, resulting in the list of conservation actions that are presented in this 2025 DEWAP below.

Priority conservation actions and research, survey, and monitoring needs are organized and presented by the issues they address. The most broad, statewide actions are presented in the first section (Statewide Threats), as they apply to most or all SGCN and Priority Wildlife Habitats, and do not need to be repeated. Habitat-specific actions are then listed in the second section for each habitat (Habitat Threats), and apply to wildlife habitats. In the third and final section, taxa-oriented actions are presented that address species directly, most often by ecological groupings (Species Threats).

Number of General Statewide Issues and Actions Identified in the 2025 DEWAP Revision

Threat Class	# Threats	# Actions
1. Residential & Commercial Development	69	113
2. Agriculture & Aquaculture	25	38
3. Energy Production & Mining	12	22
4. Transportation & Service Corridors	43	67
5. Biological Resource Use	48	93
6. Human Intrusions & Disturbance	24	51
7. Natural System Modifications	68	120
8. Invasive & other Problematic Species, Genes & Diseases	90	136
9. Pollution	88	114
11. Climate Change	32	67
12. Other Options	174	268

Number of Habitat Issues and Actions Identified in the 2025 DEWAP Revision

Habitat Group	Specific Threat Count	Specific Action Count
Agriculture	2	2
Marine/Estuarine System	25	57
Modified Uplands	4	6
Modified Wetlands	5	13
Natural Uplands	45	106
Non-Tidal Wetlands	36	98
Riverine Aquatic Habitat Systems	20	46
Tidal Wetlands	16	40

Number of Taxa Specific Issues and Actions Identified in the 2025 DEWAP Revision 

Ecological Group	# Threats	# Actions
Birds	139	211
Fish	25	38
Invertebrates	78	91
Mammals	41	75
Plants	41	26
Reptiles and Amphibians	59	110

Identifying conservation actions and research, survey, and monitoring needs provides the foundation for the dynamic process of developing accurate and current information on Delaware’s SGCN and key habitats. Use and dissemination of this information enables the important step of incorporating it into land use decisions and key conservation efforts across the state. Implementation of the actions will require the efforts of many conservation partners working together to incorporate the needs of SGCN and key habitats into their programs and plans throughout the next decade.

Related Topics:  draft