TPWD unveils fully digital 2025 State Wildlife Action Plan to prioritize species conservation

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff briefed the commission on a modernized State Wildlife Action Plan for 2025, now available as a fully online, searchable tool designed to prioritize conservation investments and unlock federal State Wildlife Grant funds.

Kelly Simon, SWAP coordinator, described a science‑driven approach that identifies species of greatest conservation need, applies knowledge‑gap analysis to determine when a species is ready for action versus further research, and uses a conservation opportunity area (COA) decision‑tool to focus restoration and habitat work. The platform includes species pages with threats and recommended actions, heat maps of observations, and a partner contribution workflow so stakeholders can submit new data and see the status of proposed updates.

Simon said the plan supports funding decisions and research prioritization, noting Texas receives roughly $2.7 million per year through the federal State Wildlife Grant program. The web tool includes filters by taxon, habitat and county to help managers or researchers identify priority species and appropriate actions. The plan is presented as a living document with a transparent contribution and review process and already being used by national and international partners as a model.

Commissioners tested portions of the site during the briefing and praised the decision‑support features. Staff invited reporters and partners to explore the public site (TXSWAP.org) and use the media kit and partner tools to contribute data.