PROVIDENCE – The Department of Environmental Management's Division of Fish and Wildlife announces the availability of the full draft 2015 Rhode Island Wildlife Action Plan (RI WAP) on its website for public review and comment. This includes a companion guide to the full RI WAP, Conserving Rhode Island Fish and Wildlife: Implementing Rhode Island's 2015 Wildlife Action Plan in Your Town. This companion guide was newly added for the 2015 revision.
RI WAP is a long-range plan for conservation across the state that identifies the state's Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and key habitats, and assesses the condition of and threats to both. RI WAP also identifies priority actions that agencies, conservation groups, municipalities and citizens can take to help stem these threats. The companion guide provides these same groups with the tools they need to take action to protect our land and waters for wildlife, the health of our communities, and for future generations.
DEM is eager to get public feedback from municipalities, land trusts, conservation groups and residents on both documents to help secure a future for the majority of Rhode Island's plants and animals. The WAP revision effort, community liaison position and WAP companion guide reflect the strong partnership and deep commitment of DEM, the Rhode Island Chapter of The Nature Conservancy, the University of Rhode Island and the RI Natural History Survey to leverage financial resources to provide technical assistance and staff expertise to the project.
The draft RI WAP and RI WAP companion guide are available on the DEM website at www.dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/fishwild/swap15.htm. The Department will accept public comments on the documents through December 31. Comments may be sent to riwildlifeactionplan@yahoo.com.
DEM is committed to preserving the quality of Rhode Island's environment, maintaining the health and safety of its residents, and protecting the natural systems upon which it depends. DEM's Division of Fish and Wildlife's mission is to ensure that the freshwater, marine and wildlife resources of the State of Rhode Island will be conserved and managed for equitable and sustainable use.