State Wildlife Action Plan for Texas
The State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) is Texas’ roadmap for conserving Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and their habitats. It directs research, restoration, management, and recovery efforts for terrestrial, freshwater, and marine species—including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, fishes, plants, and plant communities.
Our goal? Improve species status and, when possible, prevent Endangered Species Act listings. The SWAP also serves as a resource for anyone interested in conservation—whether you’re a land manager, researcher, or just passionate about Texas’ wildlife.
What’s New in the 2025 SWAP Update?
We’re bringing valuable new features to the SWAP, making it more transparent, accessible, and interactive than ever:
- Fully transparent Knowledge Gap Analyses (Draft for Review) – A system that outlines our current understanding of critical species characteristics and uses this information to identify SGCN research priorities and determine when to shift focus from research to management.
- Dynamic Conservation Opportunity maps (Draft for Review) – Interactive maps that help Texans plan research, conservation efforts, and land use with natural resource challenges and opportunities in mind.
- New ways to contribute to our knowledge base (Coming Soon!) – Citizen scientists, students, researchers, and biologists will soon be able to share observations, field notes, documentation, and research findings to help improve our understanding of SGCN and refine conservation priorities.
The SWAP isn’t just a static document—it’s a tool designed to evolve with Texas' conservation needs.
Quick Survey—We’d Love Your Input
We had a glitch with an earlier version of this survey, but it’s fixed now—and this new version is shorter and easier to fill out. Your feedback helps guide our work, and we really appreciate your time!
- Stakeholder Survey: Tell us how you want to use the SWAP—and what challenges you face in doing so.
Watch our Video Introduction to Texas' State Wildlife Action Plan.