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Affiliate Action for Wildlife: State Wildlife Action Plans
Sandhill cranes. Credit: Kelly Lyon
Wildlife and the landscapes they call home are in crisis, from the enchanting sandhill crane to the majestic monarch butterfly. And these aren’t the only species—over one third of all species nationwide are at heightened risk of extinction, for reasons ranging from habitat loss and invasive species to blocked migration corridors and dwindling water supplies. State Wildlife Action Plans give us a way forward, but what exactly are they?
These essential conservation blueprints are more than just a plan, they are a critical conservation tool that outline states’ strategies to proactively protect at-risk species and avoid the need for Endangered Species Act protections.
This year, 48 states and territories published their once-a-decade revisions to their State Wildlife Action Plans, which identify species of greatest conservation need, assess the health of habitats, highlight key threats, and outline conservation strategies that account for community needs. The successful implementation of these plans will keep thousands of species from becoming more rare and costly to conserve, protecting the wildlife and habitats that shape the West’s outdoor heritage.
The National Wildlife Federation has been working with our affiliates across the West to meet the moment and support the revisions of their state’s Wildlife Action Plan.
Colorado Wildlife Federation
This October, the Colorado Wildlife Federation (CWF) and the National Wildlife Federation co-hosted the Wildlife Action Summit 2025: Advancing Colorado’s Wildlife Action Plan to promote the Colorado Wildlife Action Plan revision. Much has happened in the decade since the last revision, which is why we brought together professionals from all walks of life, from hunters and anglers, to invertebrate and pollinator experts.
Attendees engaged in a full day of learning and collaboration, marked by panel presentations and roundtable discussions led by key partners in action plan revision and implementation. In partnership with Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff, who led the revision process in Colorado, attendees got a special look into the updated Colorado Wildlife Action Plan and its new digital data hub.
The summit was just the foundation for engaging even more organizations and communities across the state to protect Colorado’s most vulnerable species, benefiting all wildlife species and their habitats.
CWF and the Federation appreciate the support from Colorado Wildlife Council as a title sponsor for the Wildlife Action Summit and thank everyone who made this event a success.
Utah Wildlife Federation
The Utah Wildlife Federation (UWF) held a complimentary event, the Utah Wildlife Summit, at the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake City. Their team worked closely with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, who led the action planning process, and other core partners, challenging Utah’s Wildlife Action Plan community to engage more than just wildlife professionals by inviting the public to learn more about Utah’s Wildlife Action Plan.
With activities like this fun and educational coloring book for kids and a self-guided tour through the Zoo’s Wild Utah Exhibit, it’s no surprise that the event was a huge success.
In the months leading up to this event, UWF worked with partners across the state to elevate the Utah Wildlife Action Plan revision through meetings, presentations, and press events.
New Mexico Wildlife Federation
The New Mexico Wildlife Federation (NMWF) has been hard at work ensuring that their state has the resources it needs to support successful wildlife management. Earlier this year, NMWF led the coalition that successfully passed landmark state legislation that provides the newly named New Mexico Department of Wildlife with the tools, authority, and funding needed to modernize wildlife management in the state.
Their policy efforts don’t stop there. The NMWF worked with coalition partners to ensure New Mexico’s Wildlife Action Plan revision encompassed key species including, for the first time in state history, invertebrates like insects, spiders, and worms.
NMWF’s Executive Director, Jesse Deubel, also served as a panelist at the Colorado Wildlife Action Summit. He shared about NMWF’s successful efforts to build bridges and cultivate a wide, diverse coalition to support wildlife conservation.
Beyond Planning
Our work isn’t done yet. The Federation and our affiliates are committed to our mission to ensure that people and wildlife thrive across the nation, through the implementation of State Wildlife Action Plans, advocacy, education, and collaboration.
Stay up to date with our affiliates’ actions for wildlife in the West:
